There is nothing much more to say about this election that hasn't already been said, drawn or photographed.Isn't everyone wishing it was all over red rover?

Commenter

yys

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:55PM

The anti- Labor crew are out in force and their comments make embarrassing reading. Why is there such a need to demonise Rudd and Labor's policies? Is it to provide white noise so the electorate cannot hear and understand Labor's policies?

It seems so.

So we have to forgo sensible growth producing Labor policies. We also have to forgo care for the advantaged and working poor.

We have to live with what some call middle class welfare but I call cherries for the rich. (no way can a women earning $150,000 per year be "middle class").

Labor has good policies and good incentives. Seems a pity we will go into recession instead.

Commenter

TiredOfSpin

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:45PM

Grant - So what do should Rudd have done about it - run surpluses?

And what is Abbott going to do to fix it - scrap the school kids bonus, the low income rebate, drop the immediate write off threshold for small business?

Commenter

Macca75

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:48PM

What happened to the implementation of the recommendations in the Henry tax review?

Did Paul Howes not like them?

Commenter

Opinion Only

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:55PM

Isn't Kevin Rudd cute!

Commenter

Sharron

Location

Canberra

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:42PM

Night pulse heads. See you same time tomorrow, where no doubt immobile objects will meet irrepressible forces of politics. Thanks to Steph Andrew and Alex for the sparks and occasional laughs. Special Mention to J Fra you cannot deny the enthusiasm, however half-baked, don’t you ever change. :)Good night Kevin only four more sleeps.. and Tony *blush* you know I say my prays each night under your portrait so I will save the goodnights for you till later xx

Commenter

Cwitty

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:42PM

Night witty. Sweet dreams of Kevin Rudd!

Commenter

Sharron

Location

Canberra

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:49PM

Today, the ABS released the Balance of Payments for the June Quarter. Tomorrow, it will be the turn of the National Accounts (or GDP).

In the March Quarter, GDP growth was 0.6% fuelled by a 1% export sector contribution which has since 9today) gone negative, at -0.4% (of GDP).

Back in March, the ABS had this to say about the Balance of Payments outcome:“The increase in the balance on goods and services surplus, in seasonally adjusted chain volume terms, is expected to contribute 1.0 percentage points to growth in the March quarter 2013 volume measure of GDP.”

In today’s JunQ BOP report, the ABS advised that:“In seasonally adjusted chain volume terms, the surplus on goods and services fell $154m (2%) …. to $7,152m in the June quarter 2013. This is expected to detract 0.04 percentage points from growth in the June quarter 2013 volume measure of GDP.”

This points to a negative GDP number, tomorrow. That, or another massive fiscal stimulus from Government, which is not what the economy is reporting.

Looked at another way, spending is subdued, capital formation fell in JunQ (-0.7%), but at a lesser arte than for MarQ (-2.7%).

Inventories also fell 0.1% in JunQ, after rising 0.1% in MarQ.

Monthly retail spending growth in the JunQ slowed sharply, averaging 0.13% throughout the quarter against a monthly 0.3% growth rate in the MarQ, but has since dipped negative (0.1 drop) in July.

Put all this together and it suggests a negative number for JunQ GDP for tomorrow, possibly of -0.7% or higher, with SepQ not looking much better.

In all likelihood, the economy is already now flat-lining, and otherwise currently risking recession (on RGR’s watch).

After claiming credit for today’s RBA announcement, RGR must also take responsibility for tomorrow’s GDP numbers.

Commenter

Grant

Location

Mitcham

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:41PM

Pen's got a calculator and he's not afraid to use it.

Commenter

SteveH.

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:37PM

Tim Colebatch article more or less states that we have reached a political impasse where the major party cannot get legislation through the senate. Oh what a joy.

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:37PM

OH MY GOD!!!..David Speers just asked Malcolm Turnbull what he thought about Fiona Scott blaming asylum seekers for causing traffic jams and you know what Turnbull said...I DONT KNOW!!...I DONT KNOW???...he doesnt know what to think about her saying that???Come on Malcolm i though you were intelligent!!

Commenter

Steeden

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:36PM

Maybe Malcolm is using old copper to the brain and cant think quick enough?

Commenter

Archer

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:44PM

Seems you're wrong about just about everything, isn't that depressing?

Commenter

SteveH.

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:48PM

Michael, old memories die hard, This concern is in large part due to one of Pell's famous predecessors as Archbishop of Melbourne, Dr Daniel Mannix, and his highly political activity aided and abetted by BA Santamaria. I love the saying from Henry VIII's time "A cardinal Italianate, is a devil incarnate" with the nice allusion to the cardinal's colours :)

Commenter

Norm

Location

Sinny

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:31PM

@Pieron: Still waiting to hear how it will be paid back... Or do you just plan to leave that problem to a future generation. Very responsible that would be.

Commenter

Julia by 10 seats

Location

J. Fraser's Crystal Ball

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:28PM

Julia by 10 seats, even Hockey agreed on Q&A that the real debt figure is $184 billion dollars. I don't see why all you Liberals have to lie about the facts all the time.

Commenter

Tom

Location

Canberra

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:25PM

So far today we have had Tim Colebatch & Tim Berg Criticise the coalitions fiscal policy and Bernard Keane and Alan Koler criticise the coalitions direct action policy - do they have a policy that anyone likes?

Commenter

Macca75

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:20PM

Sorry Chris Berg.

Commenter

Macca75

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:22PM

They have actual policies????

Commenter

Confused

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:39PM

Macca, look at today's BOP figures, coupled with negative retail spending for July and flatlined spending for JunQ. Inventories have also fallen for JunQ compared to MarQ, as has capital formation. Tomorrow's GDP numbers will therefore prove negative and worsening in outlook. And that's on RGR's watch. Your mate RGR, by claiming credit for the RBA's status quo position today will equally have to take accounatbility for tomorrow's very poor GDP numbers when they come out. Perhaps Tim Colebatch should relaly be looking at that rather than in messing around in things politicla.

Commenter

Grant

Location

Mitcham

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:44PM

I think we need to have a pre polling test of the electorates knowledge. If you don't pass your don't vote. Might even force people to pay attention and form an opinion instead of having rhetoric form it for them.

Commenter

Chippsy

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:15PM

To paraphrase: There are too many people on this blog that I don't agree with, so they shouldn't be allowed to vote. Stalin would be proud.

Commenter

Julia by 10 seats

Location

J. Fraser's Crystal Ball

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:24PM

No, not at all; more so that having spoken to lot a people and read countless comments on multiple sites there's an alarming trend towards sensationalist voting as opposed to thought through reasoning.

My comment was a tongue in cheek poke at the amount of people that don't seem able to think for themselves.

Commenter

Chippsy

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:30PM

Chippsy: You think about who to vote for in the context of the circumstances you are in. I can assure you that the electorate are a lot smarter than what you give them credit for and that they have a BS detector far more attuned than you think. At present, the needle on the BS meter is swinging in Kevin's direction big time and that (more than anything else) will cost him on Saturday.

Commenter

Julia by 10 seats

Location

J. Fraser's Crystal Ball

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:57PM

6% as a rounded figure would have done nicely too Pen. Sometimes you really over complicate things...

Commenter

Julia by 10 seats

Location

J. Fraser's Crystal Ball

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:12PM

Tony Abbott promised the Liberal Party faithful last week that "By the end of a Coalition government's first term, the budget will be on track to a believable surplus."

Got that? Not in surplus. On track to surplus.

Given the Coalition's near-certain victory, Abbott's surplus expectations management may be the most significant promise of the whole campaign.

Significant not just for this government or the next, but for Australian governments far into the future.

First, the obvious. This is quite a backtrack. As recently as January, Joe Hockey was promising a budget surplus in the first year of government. By April, the promise had been downgraded into a surplus in the first term.

Here's the new promise: "Within a decade, the budget surplus will be 1 per cent of GDP." The Coalition is only willing to guarantee a budget surplus by 2023.

Abbott fudged it a few days later by saying "the Government is proposing to bring us back to surplus in 2016/17 and we will do at least as well as the Government". But there's a catch. Abbott doesn't think the government is able to achieve a surplus in 2016-17.

But the upshot of the revised promise is the Commonwealth budget will have been in deficit for 15 years - more than half of that time under a Coalition government.

This would be the longest stretch of deficits in Australian history. It would be twice the previous record of seven years, incurred after the Recession We Had To Have

Chris Berg

Commenter

Macca75

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:11PM

Julia by 10 seats try reading the business section and Michael Pascoe's article. But I suppose after 3 years of negativity and lies the truth would be too much for you to bear. Nothing like a slogan hey!

Commenter

Pieron

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:10PM

Well why isn't he more honest about "himself"?Then he might have some credibility.

Commenter

A country gal

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:02PM

So the LNP's latest superstar Fiona "Sex appeal" Scott has added to the asylum seeker debate. 50,000 asylum seekers are blocking the M4. Tony has such a rich cast to chose from for his front bench!

Commenter

Pieron

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:57PM

it's amazing that even the refugees currently not in Australia are driving down the M4.

Commenter

Tim

Location

InnerCity

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:09PM

And of course don't forget their obvious contribution to climate change, using more resources (in Nauru and PNG) than they would if they were in their countries of origin.

Commenter

Sambo

Location

all over the place

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:17PM

@ Pieron It's fair to say that 50,000 boat people are not all driving cars on the M4 (if any).

I guess the point is that they are all drawing on community resources in all sorts of ways (state, local, federal etc)and in so doing taking away from other needy persons and congesting what resources are available to help the needy.

Commenter

Vulture

Location

Gladesville

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:17PM

Vulture,

Why do you bother talking about needy persons?

It is after all Tony Abbott the original architect of harsh welfare to work reforms, cancelling Newstart altogether and forcing those aged 30 y.o and under to relocate for work, and moving single parents and the disabled ("job snobs") on to the lower Newstart allowance, while giving "women of calibre" up to $81,937.50 in welfare for each baby.

Commenter

Tristan

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:51PM

"Nearly one million people - 953,941 - people have already voted."

OK that is 6.009230850250407% of the voting population, who had not a clue of what Abbott's costing are.

I suppose they believe in miracles too? Certainly not "Yea of little faith"?

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:54PM

6% as a rounded figure would have done nicely too Pen. Sometimes you really over complicate things...

Commenter

Julia by 10 seats

Location

J. Fraser's Crystal Ball

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:12PM

Pen's got a calculator and he's not afraid to use it.

Commenter

SteveH.

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:37PM

Yes Kevin the economy is growing brilliantly isn't it that's why interest rates are at the lowest on record. Stunning performance pull the other one ! Retirees love you for the lowest rates in years on their life savings Crikey. No doubt you are all over the country just because people know everything is hunky dory ! Enjoy Launceston.

Commenter

Fred

Location

Bloggs

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:54PM

YES YES YES!! I want ANOTHER 3 years like the last 6 where we have our incredible THREE Triple AAA ratings,our LOW unemployment,our LOW interest rates,our SUPER FAST broadband,our Super Economy,our action on climate change,our fairer Maternity leave policy,Lets keep this country the ENVY of the world..All thanks to KEVIN RUDD and his team LABOR!!...we cant afford a recession under abbott.

Commenter

Steeden

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:49PM

Is that you Marcus Rudd?

Commenter

Julia by 10 seats

Location

J. Fraser's Crystal Ball

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:56PM

Man..what are smoking?? Can I have some?

Commenter

Now you see him

Location

Soon you won't

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:57PM

So do I. The problem is Rupert Murdoch, who's loyalty is to America, is trying to hobble our economy by ruining the NBN and putting a bunch of economic incompetents in power.

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:00PM

Steeden

Careful, your blood pressure is rising.

Commenter

$keptic

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:04PM

Gee they're getting desperate.....

Commenter

Now you see him

Location

Soon you won't

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:07PM

You need to lie down there champ.- conservative state govt now grappling with losing ratings due to long term ALP economic mismanagement demonstrate what happens when you leave ALP at the wheel too long (AAA for how long?)- low unemployment...its on the way up and you do realise they are cooking the books on this issue?- low interest rates (you do understand why we are at emergency levels I assume? you do understand why the RBA actually dropped rates to these levels?...It aint anything to do with good management- Superfast....u mean the NBN which at current rate will be rolled out just in time for your grandkids and probably technically obsolete by then- Climate change: please, whatever we do in our corner makes no difference to the world- Maternity leave - fairer for who?- Envy (ha ha) talk about arrogance...world could care less about us and our little economy- Rudd. you can have him (probably 24/7 after Sat...the rest of him don't want him in our faces ever again- Recession - come now.,,you can drop the scare campaign now, nobody bought it

Commenter

Taxpayer

Location

Here

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:07PM

Another Labor supporter who has airbrushed Gillard. She really has become 'She-who-must-not-be-named' amongst the Labor faithful.

Commenter

Nulla

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:08PM

Time to give it away. The election is lost for Labor.

You should put your energy into helping Labor sort out their problems and selecting a new party leader next week.

Commenter

Tim of Altona

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:08PM

One thing left off...268 thousand million dollars of debt in just 5 years.. Apart from that everything is hunky dory.

Commenter

Brettie

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:22PM

"- low unemployment...its on the way up and you do realise they are cooking the books on this issue?"

Yeah, because state Liberal governments in Vic, NSW and Qld have sacked tens of thousands of public servants and outsourced their jobs to the private sector, replacing them with casuals, contractors and labour hire staff.

Abbott is sacking a further 20,000 pulbic servants, and offshoring tech jobs.

Abbott invented the Job Network, promoted casualisation and work for the dole to hide the long term unemployed.

Abbott has facilitated and accelerated the outsourcing and offshoring of tens of thousands of skilled jobs with the Coalition's widely rorted, uncapped, semi-skilled 457 visa scheme which has displaced skilled Australian workers, and undercut local pay and conditions, especially in IT.

Commenter

Tristan

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:46PM

Does anyone know if Kevin is still going to the G20? I'm sure Putin and Obama will love the lecture about what Abbott will say and do.

Commenter

Julia by 10 seats

Location

J. Fraser's Crystal Ball

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:46PM

The Pulse @ 3:47 PM ... ""If you listened to [the Coalition] and you'd walked off planet Mars you'd think the economy was going to fall over tomorrow lunch time,"

I thought the Abbott cheer squad said the Australian economy fell over 6 years ago.

Did Abbott's squad get it wrong.

Big time.

Commenter

J. Fraser

Location

Queensland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:45PM

Oh - it's big alright - $400B big!! That is a lot of zeros. Now we are all waiting for Kevin's plan to pay it back. At present it is manageable, but if we get 3 more years of Kevin, then it may well not be.

Commenter

Julia by 10 seats

Location

J. Fraser's Crystal Ball

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:54PM

Well i reckon the future is very bright for our Labor friends on The Pulse - if the polls are right you're going to have plenty to complain about for the next three years.

It's almost as if it will be half time swap sides - defence will turn into attack.

Commenter

Hacka

Location

Canberra

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:37PM

We will have plenty to complain about if Abbott actually passes any of his nonsensical policies!

Can you name one policy that actually makes sense?

Commenter

Macca75

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:56PM

Thank Dog for the Senate predictions. If correct Abbott won't get much done, as usual more huff and puff of "I'm gonna blow this house down".For three years that's all he's focused on and look where it's got his Limbo policy. Lower and lower.Even if he does get in there's the matter of some some delicate court cases.So glad sexy Fiona has a policy to curb our traffic congestion woes.

Commenter

A country gal

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:50PM

@ The Age re the Cartoon today - It seems The Age has set a new low for religious bigotry and prejudice for Australia. The cartoon explicitly implies that Cardinal Pell will be calling the shots on an in an Abbot government. I know there has always been a bit of anti (hate) Catholic vitriol in the Australian media but we've never seen it actually used by a newspaper to influence voting intentions before. It reminds me much of the KKK in the USA in the 1920's against Catholics (Al Smith) or the insinuation that JFK would answer to the Pope instead of the people. Good ol' prejudice!, and if you think this is ok I think you might like to read book by Phillip Jenkins Professor of History and Religious studies at Pennsylvania State University, title The New Anti-Catholicism: The Last Acceptable Prejudice... fairly apt in this context, well done and hooray for bigots - lets all burn another Guy Fawkes!

Commenter

michael of melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:35PM

It's a joke.

Commenter

Wil

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:51PM

@ Will - yes it is, but its always Catholics at the butt of jokes and when they get upset its always the same "cant you take joke?" My question is, will The Age or cartoonists make a Mohammed, Jew, Black, Gay, or LGBT, joke in the same context? After all its only equality we ask for isn't it (yes I am using an argument from another electoral issue)... Shouldn't jokes be shared equally?

Nah didnt think so, prejudice only works in one direction these days.

Commenter

michael of melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:58PM

Mate, you need to take a chill pill. I can feel your faux outrage from here!

I take it you were just as furious at the Daily Tele's front page of Kev in a Nazi uniform?

Commenter

snag

Location

melb

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:01PM

@ Wil also its always the same when a Catholic runs for office. See the same from Labor's own (now dis-endorsed candidate) Ken Robertson as an indication of the undercurrent of this anti Catholic prejudice with his statement, "I hope Australia never has to suffer his Catholicism and the things that he's doing personally..."

Nothing more needed to be said really

Commenter

michael of melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:03PM

Well he shouldn't associate with Murdoch and Rinehart. If he kept his nose only in the Christian needs of his Catholic flock, he would not be the subject of cartoons.

I would say that the needs of his poorest constituents would be better provided by Labor policies, but Pell has been forever out of step.

Commenter

TiredOfSpin

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:08PM

Church lobby in win over charities watchdog. The lobbying power of church conservatives, the Catholic Church in particular, and the office of Sydney Cardinal George Pell, more particularly still. The pressure applied by the Sydney church through the charities debate has raised the question of the access and sway it may enjoy under Australia's first Catholic Liberal prime minister and his Catholic-strong frontbench that includes Kevin Andrews, Barnaby Joyce, Joe Hockey, Malcolm Turnbull (a convert), Andrew Robb and Christopher Pyne. Need I say more?

Commenter

CPS

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:11PM

Michael, old memories die hard, This concern is in large part due to one of Pell's famous predecessors as Archbishop of Melbourne, Dr Daniel Mannix, and his highly political activity aided and abetted by BA Santamaria. I love the saying from Henry VIII's time "A cardinal Italianate, is a devil incarnate" with the nice allusion to the cardinal's colours :)

Commenter

Norm

Location

Sinny

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:15PM

Get a grip Michael. There is as much truth in Catholicism as there is in Pol Pot's innocence. It has more invention than a museum. Ever heard of J going into a confessional?

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:17PM

@ Snag - how is that an analogy? Did you even read my initial post? Were you even aware that JFK nearly lost the election because he was a catholic it must mean that he would take his instructions from the Pope. Same in this context, just because Abbot is catholic doesn't mean he will take his instructions from Pell - just simple prejudice because you can.

PS Can you please publish a joke re muslims or jews? Afterall its just a joke right?

Commenter

michael of melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:19PM

Michael, Michael. where to begin.

Do you honestly think that Catholics are victimised in Australia? And would it honestly make you feel better if there was a bit more anti-islamic and antisemitic sentiment around? How very Christian of you.

Also - as has been raised - once Pell steps into the political arena, which he seems only too happy to do, he's fair game.

It irks me that you could be so thin-skinned about a fairly innocuous cartoon that happens to offend your sensibilities, when I'll bet you have a right chuckle at other, harsher cartoons that lampoon the religions that you've decided not to follow.

Commenter

snag

Location

melb

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:46PM

@ pen of hbra – lol thank you for making my point. You may be right about the truthfulness of Catholicsim BUT you missed the point. Religious intolerance is specifically protected by legislation (enacted by the Labor Party) and also in our Constitution – yet you think its fine to espouse all manner of hate. I challenge you to lookup Al Smith and the KKK, or JFK and the Republican push against him being Catholic – and tell me how I am wrong when I compare these examples to the current treatment of Abbot. Abbots is mocked and called a mad monk, if I used a gay slur say again Penny Wong would it get equal air play in the media as something funny and acceptable? Equality works both ways.

Commenter

michael of melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 5:01PM

Nearly one million people - 953,941 - people have already voted, according to the latest figures from the Australian Electoral Commission.

That's an awful lot of people who will be away/working/in hospital on Saturday

Or maybe there are some people who just don't like lining up and being harrassed with how to vote cards

Commenter

Macca75

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:35PM

First time ever I've agreed with you Macca - I've put a big X in the calendar ;)

Commenter

Julia by 10 seats

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:51PM

It must be a big day for you, thinking logically for the first time.

Commenter

Macca75

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:57PM

Following the shenanigans 1000 km from home!

Commenter

TiredOfSpin

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:18PM

Oh Macca - you had to go and ruin a good thing by making it personal. What is it with you Labor supporters? We agree that the people pushing how-to-vote cards on us is a nuisance. How is that a logic issue?

Commenter

Julia by 10 seats

Location

J. Fraser's Crystal Ball

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:22PM

According to Economics writer Matt Wade's report: "the gender pay gay" somehow I don't think tony's going to look at solving that problem!

Commenter

winos54

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:35PM

Today I had a 30 minute taxi ride. I brought up politics - didn't mean to, just a natural segue - but thought it rude to ask about the driver's voting intention. But he did ask me if life was going to be better under Abbott because he had some naive hope it would be. Believe me - I tried to be as fair as possible and explained the bigger issues we face (regardless of who wins). I also explained that there are winners and losers under both parties and went into detail. The driver was stunned to hear that the Coalition would be cutting the school kids bonus! He also had no idea about how their PPL would impact on franking credits. Now I seriously wonder whether the Labor message is getting through to voters!! Oh, this chap struck me as bright and competent in English speaking and comprehension. Hmmm.

Commenter

Passionfruit

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:30PM

Passionfruit

Since when did the school bonus become a right?

Commenter

$keptic

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:40PM

It not that the message isn't getting through. It is more that people have stopped listening.

p.s Your Taxi driver was concerned about his Franking credits??? Maybe I am in the wrong business. p.p.s Did you really catch a cab today or did you just wake up from your afternoon nap?

Commenter

Cwitty

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:41PM

Passion fRuit - Let's face it, the majority of people read a News Ltd paper, and the majority of those generally just read the headlines and maybe the firs paragraph of anything that isn't sport.Form this all they can deduce is that the govt are hopeless and Abbott will solve all their problems.This is why I am pretty sure tings are going to turn sour for a new Abbott govt pretty quick, as people will generally be shocked by some of the policies he plans to introduce.

Commenter

Macca75

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:41PM

It's sad really. I have had similar conversations with family members that claim that Labor have "stuffed everything up" with their spending.I then asked their opinion about PPL, buying the boats, and $15K unemployment handouts. I had an even more hostile response.Stunned silence and disbelief when I tell them those 3 policies are LNP policies.All they read are headlines - all they hear are slogans.

Commenter

AL

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:44PM

Behold the power of the Murdoch press!

Commenter

Peter A

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:45PM

I have been wondering the same thing, Passionfruit. I am also stunned by the number of my university educated colleagues who have swallowed the Coalition propaganda, hook, line and sinker. It never occurred to them to express 300 billion/ 400 billion as a % of GDP or to separate government debt from Total debt (ie including the private debt of the people of Australia).

I have been told repeatedly that Australia must "live within our means". But when I question further they say that it is Ok to have a mortgage. They gape when I tell them that Net Government debt is equivalent to a person on a salary of $100,000 a year having a debt of $13,000.

So no the simplist of messages is not getting across. Maybe there has been too much reliance on the economic acumen of the voters. Perhaps our pollies don't know how to communicate simplified concepts.

The polls say that the greatest issue concerning voters is the economy. If labor has not been able to reassure voters who have been listening to doom and gloom for months and months, then they can't win this election.

I for one will be extremely sorry as I live in Qld and have had a full meal of LNP cuts and useless economic policies. Qld's unemployment is up 2% above the national average and small business is struggling. Assets are being sold off, cheap. Qld is almost in recession. The industry in which I work is on its knees and my income is one third of what it was under Bligh.

This is a foretaste of what is to come under Abbott. I won't be celebrating on Saturday night unless Rudd comes from behind!

Commenter

TiredOfSpin

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:59PM

For all the talk about the Murdoch press, commercial TV news and radio guys like Alan Jones are at least a big a source of "news" and they're just as bad for "sensational" headlines that mislead voters but reach a hell of a lot more than any newspaper editorial.

Commenter

Arky

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:04PM

No one has any idea how PPL is going to affect franking credits plus dividends, and those who think they might lose must be pretty well off to start with.

Commenter

David Morrison

Location

Blue Mountains

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:10PM

It's lowering the business tax not the PPl that impacts on the franking credits. Most thinking people think a lower business tax is good as it increases jobs. But according to you, to keep the taxi driver's franking credits high a business tax of 73% would be splendid

Commenter

Ian

Location

Lee

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:14PM

The 170,000 hectare extension to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area is seen as the crowning conservation achievement of three years of forest peace talks. Even the industry is urging the Coalition to think again.

Made in the heat of an election campaign, surely this is an unachievable false promise by the Coalition?

"No," said opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt. "We can work with the international community on this. It's not difficult. That's what governments do all of the time."

Isn't every tree saved one less the Coalition has to plant? Surely protecting forests is a no-brainer for the tree-loving Coalition? Don't tell me that they want to cut trees down while the poor Green Army desperately tries to keep pace. Even without loss of forest there's probably 1000 years of planting work to reached emissions targets! How cruel to make them plant while trees are being felled. I just don't believe they'd have a policy that stupid!

Commenter

Passionfruit

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:42PM

Now the ALP wants to centralise control of National Parks. Add that to the ALP push to centralise control of health, education, local gov't, free press, TAFE etc

What is it with these people? Everything they touch they stuff up... why should we want control centralised to Canberra?

Commenter

Puzzled

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:28PM

I can understand why you are puzzled "Puzzled"

Quite a lot of people don't like guns going off in National Parks.

And quite a lot of people do not like to see developers being given access to National parks for their developments.

Abbott will follow newman and BOF and give in to both.

Commenter

J. Fraser

Location

Queensland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:38PM

Queenslanders don't like what the Qld LNP are planning to do in Qld's National Parks.

Neither do we like what Newman has done to Qld TAFE.

I for one would welcome a Labor government taking over and protecting our National Parks, and to stop the gutting of Qld TAFE to the betterment of the VET private providers.

In Qld now, there are no such thing as TAFE teachers anymore, with training, qualifications and conditions similar to high school teachers.

We have "trainers" with minimal qualifications who work Monday to Saturday from 6am to 10 PM without penalty rates.

This a taste of what is to come under the Coalition.

Commenter

TiredOfSpin

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:30PM

Palmer's campaign Titanic is listing to starboard by 8% and could sink without any help from climate change.

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:25PM

He is beating the GREENS. *Ouch*

Commenter

Cwitty

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:42PM

Tone, J.Fraser, Macca75, Steeden et al.Surely the time has come for you to withdraw from blogging aimlessly. There must be something constructive you can do with your time. In fact, if you start now, you will have three or four more days to add to the rest of your lives. Good bye, good luck and good voting

Commenter

Majority Voter

Location

LNP

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:20PM

If you guys are so adamant that you will win, you don't need to be here either, do you? Surely you've got something better to do, I don't know, like actual work?

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:37PM

And good night.

"Majority Voter" gets put to bed early.

Commenter

J. Fraser

Location

Queensland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:40PM

I agree totally.

Are these guys going to be keeping this up on a daily basis for the next 9+ years of conservative government?

Or do they cease to blog when Labor's Social Media unit is disbanded on Saturday night?

Commenter

Tim of Altona

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:47PM

Majority Voter - I just want to be sure you know what you are voting for - When it all comes crashing down you won't be able to say you didn't know and will have to accept the responsibility.

Commenter

Macca75

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:48PM

Throwing stones in a glass blog are we? You too could be doing something more constructive instead of reading the comments section.

Commenter

AL

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:48PM

I think Murdoch is handing out liebral how to vote cards in Pommy Abbotts electorate.Vote early and vote often!

Commenter

Steeden

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:55PM

Don't know why we even bother with voting in an election...why not just conduct opinion polls and let the media interpret them. Would save a lot of money and fuss.

Can we also please conduct an opinion poll on what I'm going to have for dinner tonight..will save me having to think for myself?

Commenter

Chippsy

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:16PM

"does Tony Abbott think we could make equivalent massive reductions to emissions out to 2050 without a carbon price but at barely any economic cost; or is he questioning whether we should make these emission reductions at all?

Reducing emissions by 60-80 per cent by 2050 is going to involve some reduction in GDP growth, no matter which way you do it. Back in 2007-08 the political consensus was that shaving 0.1 per cent of economic growth was an affordable price to pay to avoid the much higher costs of dangerous climate change. Abbott seems to be rejecting this idea in his speech.

When pressed, senior members of the Coalition close to carbon and energy issues – like Ian Macfarlane, Malcolm Turnbull and Andrew Robb – privately concede that using the budget to purchase abatement is not really sustainable over the longer term. After 2020 the size of the emission cuts required are simply too big to be paid for using revenue from income and business taxes.

They seem to believe that if Australia was committed to deep emission cuts then there’s no realistic alternative to pricing carbon. So, if Abbott sees no place for a carbon price ever but these guys think you can’t achieve 2050 targets without one, it leaves you wondering."Alan Kohler

Commenter

Macca75

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:15PM

“Labor Green Alliance” It was a perfect three word Slogan. How can we tie in ultra nationalist party Rise Up Australia into the cosy alliance and maintain the three word rule!! Some people are so inconsiderate.

Commenter

Cwitty

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:14PM

Liberal One Nation al Party. It's got a kind of ring to it. It sounds true.

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:39PM

My sincerest apologies to "hacka" for not being here all the time.

Busy earthmoving.

Only 1 dozer driver and one project manager onsite at present.

Will be plenty more employed later as it is a 22 unit development.

Regards to the rest of the Abbott cheer squad sitting at home.

Commenter

J. Fraser

Location

Queensland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:07PM

Reckon Kevin could put his time on the flight back to best use by working on his Saturday night speech.

"Its been an honour & a privilege, blah, blah, blah, sob, sob."

Commenter

SteveH.

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:06PM

Absolutely true "SteveH."

But the Labor crowd will be cheering another Labor win.

Commenter

J. Fraser

Location

Queensland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:39PM

Just promise you'll show up next Monday Frase, I know I will.

Commenter

SteveH.

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:41PM

So Labor preferencing Rise Up Australia.

Not really surprising and is further proof why Labor will be crushed on Saturday.

In NSW One Nation was placed last by the Libs in the Senate with everyone else including the ALP and the Greens preferenced higher.

Seems the Coalition placed integrity above a desire to chase votes.

Commenter

Vulture

Location

Gladesville

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:18PM

The conservative "independent" for the Victorian seat of Higgins, Graeme Weber, has preferenced the Family First (no. 3) and Rise Up Australia party (no. 5) higher than the ALP and Greens as well.

Commenter

Tristan

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:24PM

Seriously I think there is an awful lot of distrust of Abbott and rightly so. Therefore many will vote for Labor as the only other choice. I know, I know, but we are discussing human behaviour here not logic.

So, I believe Labor will lose, however not by the margin you believe. Hopefully nether Labor or the Coalition will have control in the senate and that the Greens can bring some integrity into the system. God only knows it needs it.

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:34PM

The only people that need any form of induction to vote Liberal are those sporting an IQ of less than 50....and by the sound of it, there seems to be a large number of you around.Does it seem reasonable to vote Rudd in? Why so that he can complete the mess he started?

Commenter

Scarlet Pimpernell

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:55PM

"Scarlet Pimpernel" has been formally "inducted" into the Abbott "suppository of wisdom".

Congratulations "Pimpernel" the Tories are rattling their jewelry in appreciation.

Commenter

J. Fraser

Location

Queensland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:12PM

Some people look below the surface and in a bit of depth at the parties. They look at historic patterns and policies.

Of course, if you're shallow and all you do is believe the Liberal hype and not look any deeper then of course you'll vote for what appears to you to be the most popular party.

And I'm not even going to slur your IQ. I don't need to.

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:18PM

SP and Tone.

Seriously, questioning someone's IQ says more about you than your topic of discourse.

One would have to question, not your IQ, but perhaps lack of manners, respect or dignity.

And Tones, you didn't reply the other day to this: Other than hiding behind the anonymity of this thread, would you say the same direct to your family, friends and colleagues that will be voting for the LNP?

Let me guess Tone's, you know of no one that is voting LNP.

Commenter

$keptic

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:00PM

On the contrary $keptic, my Dad, who has never voted anything other than Coalition all his life is not voting for Tony Abbott after I explained what they were doing to his pension. I doubt he will ever vote for them again.

Also, I agree, questioning IQ is bad manners. If you read my comment, it wasn't me that question IQ, it was the original poster.

Just because you can't win an argument with me based on logic doesn't mean you should be such a wet blouse about it.

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:30PM

Now Tone's

You have played the IQ card a few days back, which is why I mentioned it again.

Hence, not being a wet blouse at all.

Commenter

$keptic

Location

Melburne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 5:02PM

The only people that need any form of induction to vote Liberal are those sporting an IQ of less than 50....and by the sound of it, there seems to be a large number of you around.Does it seem reasonable to vote Rudd in? Why so that he can complete the mess he started?

Commenter

Scarlet Pimpernell

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:53PM

name one coalition policy that acutally makes sense?

Commenter

Macca75

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:08PM

its about 29% of the country

Commenter

Cwitty

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:15PM

@ Macca, the ones they ripped off the ALP

Commenter

tasch2

Location

Mornington Peninsula

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:09PM

Tandberg @2.09

Why do some cartoonists see things in black and white even when they use colour?

Commenter

yys

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:52PM

I wonder if the RBA now cuts rates at the next meeting the lefties will be claiming that this is a sign of an economy in trouble because of the libs or will they continue with the line that any fall is a good fall?

When I listen to what the LNP says, I hear that we must trust them based on John Howards years (even though it was in a global boom time and economically the world has changed substantially since then). I see no consideration for the future. I see an 'instant gratitification syndrome' rather than mindful planning for the future. Why is it that not the LNP nor their supporters engage in constructive conversations?

Commenter

Prosper

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:48PM

Yes, a real worry. It's like the intervening years never happened. Can't they see the world has changed. No wonder I find it easy to be a Labor voter!

Commenter

Passionfruit

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:13PM

Emergency low interest rates. means the economy is in perfect shape, eh Tone? Is the governer trying to slow down an economy that is going gang busters OR is he trying to breath life into an Economy that has been battered? What does Glenn want?? Interest rates lower than the GFC... What me worry? ... I vote Labor!!!

Commenter

Cwitty

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:37PM

Cwitty, under John Howard, low interest rates was good. Now that it's Labor it's bad.

The RBA leave rates on hold, can't wait to see how Joe Hockey makes this further evidence of the ALP mishandling the economy, after all when they go upit's bad and it's labors fault, when they go down it's bad and it's labor's fault so why shouldn't staying still be bad and Labors fault.

Commenter

Macca75

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:48PM

Yesterday, Minister Burke was talking about the dramatic reduction in boat arrivals during August 2013 and attributing this to the success of RGR's new border protection policies. But how, for example, does this compare to August 2012, or is this something that the Minister doesn’t want to talk about?

Yesterday, Minister Burke advised that August counted for 1585 arrivals in 25 boats.

Checking the Border protection site which has recorded all boat arrivals since the caretaker conventions cut in, and before then, Minister Claire’s site, one can see that since 4th August (there have been 18 reported arrivals for a total of 1355 illegals, including 44 crew).

Conversely, Minister Claire's site refers to 5 reported boat prior to 5 August, with 264 arrivals, including 10 crew. That’s an August 13 total of 23 boats and 1619 arrivals, with 54 crew.

Alternatively, that's 1565 arrivals without crew, but with a further 2 boats not yet accounted for (based on the Minister’s own advice).

Assuming 1619 as the final number for August 13, the reduction year on year is ~200, or just over 10%. That's some distance apart from the >40% rapid reduction change that Minister Burke was otherwise talking about, yesterday.

Commenter

Grant

Location

Mitcham

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:46PM

If only they had've bought the entire Indonesian fishing boat fleet. Then there wouldn't be a problem.

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:21PM

Comment @ 2:14pm. Mark Dreyfus is in a safe Labor seat in Melbourne. I doubt if he's losing too much sleep "trying to hang on to his seat". If he was in Western Sydney, maybe but surely not in an inner Melbourne seat with a 10.4% margin.

Commenter

Lewis

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:46PM

"Mr Rudd says life will change after Saturday if the Coalition is elected".I should hope so Mr Rudd!!!

Commenter

Now you see him

Location

Soon you won't

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:40PM

And that's why we're voting for the coalition so that life will change after Saturday

Commenter

seabass

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:44PM

I don't understand why people have fallen for the con which is the labor CO2 tax / ETS. According to the governments own numbers our emissions will increase by 5% by 2020, therefore we will have to spend billions every year on 100mt plus of overseas abatement to achieve an on balance (deceitful) 5% reduction. This is not a market mechanism, this is taking money out of our economy and paying others to do our dirty work. At least with the coalition plan they are spending money here to reduce CO2 emissions rather than sending it to another country where, in reality, there will be little ability for us to be sure that the paid for abatement is achieved. It probably won't achieve the 5% target but even if levels are the same as today we as a people will be polluting less than under the labor "market" mechanism and the billions of dollars will be spent here and not wasted in foreign countries with little accountability.

Commenter

Already Reflected

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:38PM

I don't understand how people could fall for the con the Liberals call Direct Action.

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:03PM

How can our emissions increase by only 5%? Coal production in 2000 was about 200 million tonnes , producing 572 million tonnes of Co2. This year our coal production is 414million tonnes, producing 1.184 billion tonnes of emissions. Now add the emission produced by oil and gas and frankly you should realise that someone is taking you for a dil.

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:14PM

Tone, but you will blindly vote for a policy that will increase our emissions by 5% and send billions of taxpayer dollars overseas to decrease emissions for us. Are you like some of the other rusties on other articles who didn't even realise that in fact emissions will increase under labor. Or maybe like them you think a 7% fall in electricity emissions means our emissions have reduced this year.

Commenter

Already Reflected

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:16PM

Pen, just going on the figures on the governments own website.

Commenter

Already Reflected

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:36PM

I've already made my voting intentions public, and I won't be voting for either of these disgraceful parties with their dodgy environmental schemes.

Only the carbon tax made sense to me - charge polluters for pollution which improves our overall environment.

The ETS schemes of both Labor and Liberal are all about paying polluters out of taxpayers money to reduce pollution. They should both be ashamed.

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:43PM

Already Reflected

That would be liar A then?

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:01PM

I doubt many people voting Coalition could even tell you what "direct action" is or what it is meant to do.

All I know about it is that it's a few billion in payments to big polluters that won't actually get close to achieving the stated emission reduction targets. If Tony wants to stop the "waste", canning the direct action policy, the boat buyback policy and "Fraudband" would be a good start...

Commenter

Arky

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:26PM

And the Reserve Bank decides not to tinker with interest rates any further. Not just yet anyway. Praise the Lord!

Commenter

Lewis

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:37PM

And what Lord would that be? Lord (kyros) = village priest?

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:37PM

Getting bored, Pen?

Commenter

Lewis

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:57PM

In 2010, 468,000 PRE-POLL VOTES were cast, with 159K (34%) to LABOR, 207K (44) to the COA, and 71K (15) to the GRN.

The POSTALS will similarly favour the COA 58/42 and the ABSENT VOTES, 53/47, to the COA.

This doesn’t mean that the COA will have automatically won but rather provides some guide to how the “OTHER” votes will likely fall on Saturday night.

Already, PRE-POLLING and POSTAL VOTE applications suggest a much higher proportion (than ever before) of the 14.7 million voting population, voting before Saturday (presently, maybe 1.7M, with a further >1M set to cast ABSENT VOTES on Saturday).

Commenter

Grant

Location

Mitcham

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:31PM

If Fact Checker wants a good claim to check, how about Rudd's comment on Sunday that he's previously escaped from tighter spots than this one ?

Commenter

Hacka

Location

Canberra

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:30PM

It's true, Hacka! Haven't you heard he's been over the wire in Afghanistan?

Commenter

Lewis

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:11PM

He must have flown economy once in his life

Commenter

tasch2

Location

Mornington Peninsula

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:24PM

Remember people, the Liberals have a pattern of introducing policies that are bad for you. They introduced the never ever GST, a policy that shifts the tax burden from the rich to the middle class. They introduced WorkChoices, that tried to make Australia like America where employees can be fired for any reason without recourse. The Liberals did this. It's in their blood. You know they want it.

If you are going to vote for the Liberals because you've been swept up in the hype of the moment, have a deep think about why you are voting for them. They are not your friend, even if you are aspirational.

Wanting to be rich does not mean that voting for the Liberals is going to progress you down that path. They don't want more people at the top, but they want your vote and you are exactly the patsy they believe they can manipulate.

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:28PM

And yet I'll still vote for vote for the Liberals over Labor. It says alot about how rubbish Labor have been in government both Federal and State.

Commenter

Paul

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:34PM

1st time voter by any chance Tone?

Commenter

$keptic

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:38PM

Ooooo Tone - channeling Kev ? Shall darkness fall upon the Earth ?

Commenter

Hacka

Location

Canberra

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:42PM

Hey Tone get your facts right - the Coalition went to an election to get a mandate in relation to the GST - more ALP spin - and it is rubbish

Commenter

Baltic13

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:43PM

Remember Tone, copying and pasting the same inane comments day after day is bad for your health. It gives you a false sense of reassurance that at least your message is being repeated. If you're going to comment on these blogs because you've been swept up by the leftist propaganda emanating from the labor website, have a deep think about what you are actually writing. It is not fact, even though you wish it to be.Wanting to be factual does not mean that reading the labor party website will progress you down that road. They don't want to inform people but they are desperate for your vote and you are exactly the patsy they believe they can manipulate.

Commenter

Already Reflected

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:47PM

ToneNot wanting to play the man (I'll leave that for your leader) but do you listen to yourself? Ignoring the lies about the GST, the fear and desperation in your "tone" are not inspiring anyone onto your lonely bandwagon. The only thing in the blood at the moment seems to be the vitriol and bile in yours. But I am confident that there is a good reserve of self belief there that will support you through the news coming EARLY Saturday evening. You will know you were right and the next three years will show them, right?Well look, I did play the man after all.

Commenter

dcs

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:48PM

Tone, are you definitely in IT? You're sounding more like a school principal or teacher.

Commenter

$keptic

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:55PM

Tone, people are voting Tony in. They are voting Kevin out.

Commenter

Peter A

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:00PM

Tone

Look at the bright side with your musings. History may show that the Pulse election thread of 2013 was the Pen, Frazzles and Tone show.

Commenter

$keptic

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:04PM

No Tone is an "Entrepreneur" as he told us today.I'm tipping his latest "money making venture" is posting comments on behalf of the ALP.

Commenter

beasleyst

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:14PM

"the Coalition went to an election to get a mandate in relation to the GST - more ALP spin - and it is rubbish"

Oh really Baltic13?

What, 1 day before the 1998 election?

The Liberals have completely failed to campaign on their TWO HUNDRED PBO policy costings with ONLY 3 DAYS left until the election.

The Liberals failed to campaign on uncapped, semi-skilled 457 visas in 1996 and completely failed to campaign on Workchoices during the 2004 election.

The Liberals have no mandate to implement anything they've failed to campaign on.

Commenter

Tristan

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:21PM

Who cares if they went to an election for the never ever GST. John Howard said never ever. He reneged on that. He lied. Honest John lied. Under the same rules that you use to declare Rudd a lar, I'm calling John Howard the Liberal a liar too.

And the result was that we ended up with the GST, the biggest tax in Australian history, which moves the tax burden from the rich to the middle class.

Labor have given us six years of reasons not to vote for them. If they refuse to pass the Carbon Tax repeal bills, they may as well give us another six years of reasons from opposition.

Or would Albo as opposition Leader be smarter than that ?

Commenter

Hacka

Location

Canberra

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:23PM

Why would they allow the direct action policy to become legislation? All ist does is throw away $3.2b.

Commenter

Macca75

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:32PM

Hacka, you are sounding like an old broken record. Same statements, same arguments.

Don't you have a garden to prune?

Commenter

Sharron

Location

Canberra

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:32PM

Abbott has given Australians 20 years full of reasons not to vote for him.

Why the clown still has a mortgage.

And people complain about paying pollies too much.

Commenter

J. Fraser

Location

Queensland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:34PM

The Coalition have given us more than 6 years of reasons to not want them in power.

Commenter

Arky

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:35PM

The ALP want to repeal the Carbon Price Legislation, just not replace it with an Socialist inspired replacement which will redistribute wealth to business.

PS The Snowy scheme began in 49 under an ALP government and was finished in 74 by an ALP government.

Commenter

tasch2

Location

Mornington Peninsula

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:43PM

Seriously Hacka, I actually am of the opinion that there aren't many paid shrills on here, but your continuous bleating makes me think you are one. You seem to push the Liberal line hook line and sinker, without ever questioning why, without any depth in your analysis.

Why do you care about the carbon tax again? Surely you would care about the extraordinarily high electricity prices first?

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:47PM

tasch2 - construction finished in October 1972, Whitlam came in in December.

Kinda wipes out Albo's claim that Labor built it, but let's not history get in the way shall we ?

Tone - humblest apologies if you don't like some comments. You could always choose not to reply.

Commenter

Hacka

Location

Canberra

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:15PM

Hacka, it pays to research pal.

http://www.snowyhydro.com.au/energy/hydro/snowy-mountains-scheme/

In black and white from the horses mouth.

Commenter

tasch2

Location

Mornington Peninsula

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:43PM

Quite correct tasch2 - now could you read out the completion date of the project then the start date of the Whitlam government please ?

Then can you explain how Albo can claim that Labor built and delivered the SMS ?

Thanks.

Commenter

Hacka

Location

Canberra

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:54PM

I want to know if a Liberal government can ever come up with a nation building project on their own, without stealing them from Labor and trying to claim them for their own.

Liberals are generally do nothing governments devoid of ideas. It takes Labor to come up with the nation building projects, regardless of whether the Liberals are forced to finish them off.

Snowy Mountain Scheme - definitely Labor, but because the Liberals can't find any other nation building project, any at all that Liberals have come up with themselves, they have to try and steal Labor's one.

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:37PM

Hacka, if you go to the link I suggested and click on "The History" you will find the following which I have reproduced verbatim:

"Construction started on the Scheme on 17 October 1949, when the Governor-General, Sir William McKell, Prime Minister Ben Chifley and William Hudson fired the first blast at Adaminaby. Construction was completed in 1974, for a total historical cost (funded by Commonwealth Government advances) of $820 million."

Whitlam was elected, as you have pointed out, in 1972. If you look at your Calender you will notice that 1972 comes before 1974.

So as I said previously, the scheme was begun and completed by an ALP government.

Commenter

tasch2

Location

Mornington Peninsula

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:40PM

Tony Abbott the conservationist wants wants to have the extension to World Heritage listed old growth forests in Tasmania removed. This just proves the he is certainly not about protecting the environment. His proposal is not even supported by the Forest Industries Association of Tasmania. It has been described as simply a populist election statement. We should all be very, very afraid about what Abbott and his team will do in regards to environmental protection in this country.

Commenter

CPS

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:22PM

Can someone please explain Direct Action? I thought the Coalition wanted as many trees as possible in Australia? Surely that means very little logging in the future? (Just removal of the odd declining tree perhaps.) Or will the Green Army try to plant as fast as the other trees are coming down? But wait a minute - don't we need far more trees than we have currently...so how does that work? It simply makes no sense to me.

Commenter

Passionfruit

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:09PM

Abbott and Hockey are going to use their "budget emergency" excuse to inflict the rest of the 200 crappy policies they've completely failed to campaign on during this 2013 election.

It's the same tactic they used with dumping the baby bonus which they planned all along.

Abbott falsely claimed he decided to dump the baby bonus after the May 2013 "budget emergency", but he is on record 3 years before in 2010 asserting that the baby bonus would be used to fund his goldplated parental leave scheme.

"Coalition would scrap reduced baby payments: Hockey" (The Age 20 May 2013)

"But in his budget reply speech last Thursday, Mr Abbott said that due to a “budget emergency”, the Coalition would have to implement measures that were “objectionable”.

"Such objectionable cuts included “the abolition of the baby bonus, which the government had promised never to touch”.

“Abbott defends 'fair' parental leave plan” (Lateline 8 Mar 2010)

"LEIGH SALES: How much do you project that it will cost annually?

TONY ABBOTT: Well, the total cost of this will be about $3.8 billion. About $1 billion will come from the baby bonus, $2.7 billion though I'm anticipating will come from a levy on the taxable incomes of larger businesses."

www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2010/s2840098.htm

At least $5.5 billion per year Tony, not $3.8 billion.

Commenter

Tristan

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:18PM

If the Liberals weren't just politicking, they would focus on the issue of after school care, which affects for more people than the paid parental scheme. Have we heard anything about that from them? No. They like taking money from the many and giving it to the few.

Commenter

Tom

Location

Canberra

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:49PM

Tristan, have you got a point? Would you expect him to keep the baby bonus on top of the paid parental leave?Without the PPL he would not have scraped the baby bonus but reluctantly agreed to it because of the budget situation. You guys are really getting desperate? Any idea how Rudd will finance the NT thought bubble, garden island, taking over TAFE's and any number of other thought bubbles from the campaign? Have you seen the final costings from labor? Have you been outraged about that?

Commenter

Already Reflected

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:59PM

Already Reflected,

Because you obviously missed the point, I repeat..Abbott already decided in 2010 to dump the baby bonus, 2010!

In 2013, repeat, 2013, Abbott used his budget reply speech to claim he was forced to scrap the baby bonus when that decision was already made 3 years ago.

And despite scrapping the baby bonus, Abbott still has a budget blackhole in his parental leave costings that he has not explained.

It costs $5.5 billion p.a, not $3.8 billion p.a.

Understand?

Commenter

Tristan

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:23PM

So you use an announcement from the last election, and the costings, to compare to the costings this election. With that logic no wonder none of your comments make sense.

Commenter

Already Reflected

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:45PM

Can any of you LNPers tell the rest of us plebs if Tony Abbott is introducing the rich women's baby bonus just to keep his Peta Credlin happy?

Commenter

Sharron

Location

Canberra

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:17PM

In a word, no. As a Commonwealth public servant she would have access to a similar scheme anyway paid for exclusively by taxpayers. Care to dazzle us all with your explanation of how that is fair?

Commenter

brian

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:36PM

Oh Sharron, have a snickers because clearly you get pretty angry when you're hungry.

Oh, and try telling a female earning $75,000 a year and who will get her wage compensated for nine months if she has a child that she is rich.

But hey, clearly you desperate and so your comments are getting more feral. Typical labor.

Commenter

kp

Location

brisbane

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:45PM

Sharron

As you well know every full time working mother will have the chance to receive the PPL, not just higher income earning women.Why don't you focus on the benefit it will be for the majority of women?

Commenter

yys

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:56PM

kp or Betty,

Same old snicker ad statements I see kp. I'm going to call you Betty from now on because the only thing you watch on TV is the snickers ad. Not original so try to think of your own material kp (Betty).

Peta Credlin rules the LNP and every LNP MP has to abide by what Peta Credlin wants.

It was Credlin's idea for the rich women's baby bonus. Credlin is demanding the baby bonus and Tony Abbott wouldn't dare go against what Peta Credlin wants!

Commenter

Sharron

Location

Canberra

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:33PM

Can someone explain to me the point of PolitiFact wasting their time checking whether politicians have been able to come from as far behind as Labor to win? Isn't this just pointlessly rubbing it in? I means seriously, of all the possible facts they could have checked and they chose this one?

I think Politifact needs to redo some of its ratings of Coalition policies and costings because they are basing their findings on the information provided.

And as we all know the Liberals dispute the findings of billion dollar blackholes in their parental leave scheme and direct action plan but have withheld their TWO HUNDRED PBO policy costings with only 3 days to go until the election.

Haven't heard anything from the Liberals' "3 eminent Australians" yet either who supposedly have been looking at the Coalition's costings for the past 2 years.

They'll probably be as humiliated as the second tier accounting firm which consented to do the Liberals' costings during the 2010 election.

They're not very good at abiding by tight deadlines, are they?

Commenter

Tristan

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:28PM

@Tristan: I wouldn't keep up that costing line. After all, we all know that Labor did the same late release at the two last elections - and we also had the smack-down of Labor's black hole by the public service. That was honestly not a good look (especially if you are campaigning on trust and a "new positive way") was it?

Commenter

Julia by 10 seats

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:00PM

OM MY ITS GOING PAIR SHAPED EVERY DAY..An electrical services company has been accused of attempting to bribe its workers to vote Liberal, with a promise of $100 if the Coalition wins on Saturday.

Western Sydney-based HMP Electrical has been referred to the Australian Electoral Commission after a worker took exception to an apparent inducement to vote Liberal.

Commenter

Steeden

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:09PM

If the trade unions are going to report to the AEC anyone who offers an inducement to voters perhaps they should start with Kevin Rudd and the rest of his cabinet.

Commenter

Vulture

Location

Gladesville

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:17PM

Well they have tried every other type of questionable inducement why the surprise.I had a recorded phone call last night: "Hi, this Kevin Rudd..." Clunk?

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:28PM

"A text message sent to staff, obtained by Fairfax Media, said:

“Hi Guys – As you may or may not be aware, the federal election is on Saturday, 7th of September 2013.

"Eddie has asked me to remind you to VOTE and to let you know that if the Liberal Government win you will all receive a $100 GIFT as employees of HMP Electrical Services."

"Aren't we lucky to live in a democratic country! Kindest regards, Nesska (for Eddie)”

"The Eddie referred to is HMP owner Edmond Hajar, who runs the Northmead-based business comprising some 20 employees."

Gee, is that why I saw what looked like showbags in the Liberal's tv ads?

Commenter

Tristan

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:31PM

Steeden

I'm more interested in what a pair-shape looks like!

Commenter

$keptic

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:39PM

Carl @ 1.51 looks like Tony when asked if he'd like to appear on Q & A

Commenter

tasch2

Location

Mornington Peninsula

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:07PM

Hey tasch2 did you get a chance to read up on the Snowy Scheme after yesterday ?

Commenter

Hacka

Location

Canberra

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:25PM

I did. Ben Chifley, the Labor Prime Minister launched the Snowy Mountain Scheme in 1949. It officially began on it officially began on 17 October 1949 after 3 years of planning. Menzies was not elected until 10 December 1949.

It takes Labor to come up with visionary nation building projects. Liberals are generally do nothing governments.

See:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowy_Mountains_Scheme for evidence.

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:01PM

PolitiFact rates Rudd's claim false.

Again.

Commenter

Louis Cypher

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:07PM

Who cares? The fact is so unbelievably irrelevant it's an embarrassment to PolitiFact.

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:13PM

So Rudd's lies are OK if you consider them irrelevant?

Commenter

dcs

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:25PM

ABC Factchecker found that Hockey exaggerated the extent of the Labor debt, and how much the Liberals paid off.

It also found that Hockey alternates between gross debt and net debt when it suits his purposes.

Just like how Peter Costello went out on his own in defining money allocated to the states as "loans" instead of "grants".

And when Costello's dodgy creative accounting tactics were criticised by economists, Costello misused his position as treasurer to pressure the economists' employers to have them sacked.

Commenter

Tristan

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:36PM

dcs, I can't see how this can be considered a lie. Many of us make off the cuff comments about all sorts of things in daily life. It makes sense to me to make a comment in support based on what you think happened elsewhere. To call this a lie instead of an unchecked fact is pretty irrelevant in my books.

If you want to get into lies, the Liberal Party have made a whole stack in this election. Why pick on Labor when you know they're going to lose?

Mr Abbott can you PLEASE stop calling asylum seekers who arrive by boat "illegal boat arrivals". They are not. And you know it.

Commenter

Mary

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:06PM

I agree Mary and Tony Abbott was an immigrant boat person himself.

Commenter

Sharron

Location

Canberra

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:22PM

They are classified illegal by adjoining the word immigrant. They are not immigrants they are legal asylum seekers not illegal immigrants.

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:37PM

Ever since Abbott was told train drivers don't use GPS he has stopped using them.

Commenter

J. Fraser

Location

Queensland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:05PM

Pathetic once again J Fraser - your desperation is showing - oh well on Saturday night, one party is going to be disappointed and another very happy - and I know what side I would rather be on - not the one man band (Kevin Rudd) that is the ALP at present

Commenter

Baltic13

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:21PM

Awesome!

Commenter

Sharron

Location

Canberra

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:24PM

Thigh slapper Frase, maybe you would like to comment on rudds misrepresentation of the bible last night on Q &A. What a grub. He claims to be a christian then lies about the bible to try and paint a christian minister in abad light. Is there anything that this bloke wont do or say to tr and retain power?

Commenter

Denny

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:32PM

One "crack" too many for "Baltic13".

"Baltic13" prefers straight rails.

Commenter

J. Fraser

Location

Queensland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:36PM

"Carl the simulator patient was on hand for Kevin Rudd's visits to the University of Tasmania in Launceston on Tuesday"

Carl says it will be Julia by 10 seats.

Well he is a dummy after all.

Commenter

SteveH.

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:59PM

Carl's election monitor has the Coalition ahead 87 to 17

Commenter

Puzzled

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:18PM

Carl was interviewed by Mark Riley, unsurprisingly he got the same silent treatment as he got from the leader of the opposition.

Commenter

tasch2

Location

Mornington Peninsula

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:21PM

"Team Rudd was on its way to Launceston airport when the bus turned around and headed back into town. This is so that Labor leader Kevin Rudd can be on hand to give a rapid response to the Reserve Bank of Australia's interest rate decision (due at 2.30 pm).

But this raises the prospect of Team Rudd clashing with Team Abbott which has just left Adelaide bound for Launceston."

Well there you go, for those who have complained Rudd trip to Tassie hasn't been covered properly this post clearly contradicts that, Rudd got on a bus that did a U Turn and may see Tony Abbott.

Commenter

Macca75

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:58PM

Maybe he wants to drop into Bunnings to pick up the equipment necessary to construct a believable persona before Saturday.

Commenter

Puzzled

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:02PM

I wonder if the bus is going to break down again? Carl looks positively freaked out poor guy! Go with the three piece at least there is some melody. 6 years ago of course it was just arranged differently. Can we please have a cartoon that harks back to 2007? Sticking by predictions. Cheers

Commenter

Optimist

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:16PM

Another Rudd U-Turn...does Rudd stand for anything. :)

Commenter

kp

Location

brisbane

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:19PM

"Carl" @ 1.51pm has a better chance of life being breathed into him than does Rudd's campaign.

Commenter

brian

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:56PM

Carl, the simulator patient, meets Kevin, the simulator PM.

Carl attained the position by ousting the prior incumbent Miss Crash Test Dummy. Kevin did the same.

Commenter

Puzzled

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:04PM

Brain,

Yes Labor limping to the finish line and will need major CPR afterwards. Any volunteers?

Commenter

yys

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:50PM

Move over Jaymes Diaz you have a NEW contender in the GAFFE department..YUP good ol miss "Sex Appeal" Fiona Scott blaming the refugees for traffic jams!!..Tony you can sure pick em!!

Commenter

Steeden

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:55PM

It fits right in there with their "buy the Indonesian fishing boat fleet" - all ridiculousness in my books. I find it surprising when Liberals claim that the Greens have kookie ideas. My god, look at the Liberal ones! Drone anyone?

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:03PM

Abbotts strict rule of no liberal candidate allowed to talk to the media has just blown up in his face...And people are STILL thinking of voting for the Coalition of Chaos?

Commenter

Archer

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:03PM

Morrisons going to help with traffic jams in western suburbs of Sydney.

By stopping growth.

Commenter

J. Fraser

Location

Queensland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:07PM

I see Fiona Scott is on track to win Lindsay with a massive swing away from Bradbury - you are correct, Abbott sure can pick his candidates!

Commenter

Tim of Altona

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:20PM

You know what’s dumb Steeden, continuing to support the Labor party that has created a false economy through a carbon tax that has crippled business and sent householders to the rink, that introduced a (mining) tax that collected no money, but spent the money they expected to collect.

Commenter

Peter G

Location

Drummoyne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:33PM

Hang on. The PPL was meant to encourage women (even those of calibre) to reproduce. Wont that mean the population will rise as well?Just as well Tony "Infrastructure" Abbott is going to build roads, roads, roads then. I'm sure more roads are going to help with the traffic problem.

Commenter

AL

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:34PM

It's a new policy!

Stop the Jams!

Commenter

Tom

Location

Canberra

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:56PM

Well Tony Abbott is a "Roads Scholar"

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:56PM

I wonder why Chris Bowen isn't promoting gay marriage in his electorate. This is supposed to be a vote winner for Labor. I think the "Marriage equality” people should help Chris in his fight for his west Sydney seat. They should do a letter box drop of the area reminding the voters that the only way to get same sex marriage is to vote for Chris Bowen. Apparently McMahon is on a knifes edge.. he needs all the help he can get. In all the rush of the campaign Chris Bowen has just forgotten to mention it. No problems Chris. My name is Cwitty I am from Sydney and I am here to help. I will make some calls and organise some rainbow signs with a photo of Chris smiling at the union of a same sex couple and post them all over the electorate. That should fix it for him… Your welcome.

Commenter

Cwitty

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:54PM

Cwitty. Right now Chris Bowen is upto his armpits in that pesky WHOS NEXT campaign run by the Australian Salary Packaging Industry Association. I don't think he hears you as he is too busy explaining to nurses, teachers, charity workers, etc why he is planning to make it harder for them to own & operate a car.

Commenter

Lewis

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:02PM

Lewis,

It's not Chris Bowen's fault that people don't know how to complete a log book to record business mileage only, for 12 weeks, over a 5 year period.

Always a bit of room for FBT rorting and a goldplated parental leave scheme.

Commenter

Tristan

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:42PM

Tristan. You better Cc Chris Bowen in on your post. He needs all the help he can get in defending that particular policy. I don't think he thought it through as thoroughly as you have.

Commenter

Lewis

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:05PM

@TrissyNurses will not have their car under the new rules because they do not currently use it for business... They just use their cars to get home late at night after finishing the late shift. It's one of the only perks of this low paying vital job. Log books wont help them, There are lots of nurses in McMhan and Lindsey. Both electorates are likely to be lost to Labor on this issue alone. If Chris Bowen and David Bradbury weren't attacking nurses maybe they would get some votes..

Commenter

Cwitty

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:25PM

Steph, did Burke repeat Rudd's claim that 1 in 13 boat people have drowned since the Pacific Solution was dismantled? That's significantly more than the 1000 mentioned by everyone else. Was he even aske about it? Thanks.

Commenter

brian

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:54PM

Fact checker PolitiFact have now lost any faith I had in them. Talk about the boots coming out. Of all the claims made in this election campaign they could be checking, they choose this one about Kevin the comeback kid. They even state that they are not fans of kicking someone when they are down. What a joke. Perhaps they can now check the claim Tony Abbott made this morning that life will be easier under a coalition government?

Commenter

CPS

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:50PM

CPS - I gave up on the fact checker weeks ago, it seemed they didn't want to do the hard work on policy and just "fact check" off the cuff comments.

Commenter

Macca75

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:57PM

+1

Commenter

Prosper

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:09PM

Naturally when they deliver a finding that any Liberal announcement is deemed false you think the Fact Checkers are doing a wonderful job.

Or am I wrong?

Commenter

Tim of Altona

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:16PM

Here's a fascinating one on whether or no Labor saved us from the GFC.

@Tim, maybe we should get them to fact check your assertion... it does seem as if someone is paying them for rediculous fact checks.

Commenter

Prosper

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:35PM

Bakayou: that's an opinion piece. I could also direct you to this piece on the very same website, also by a professor of economics: http://www.politifact.com.au/truth-o-meter/article/2013/aug/27/did-labor-really-save-us-gfc/

In fact, the piece you referred to is a direct reply to Professor Holden's piece.

Neither is Politifact Australia's "official" stance. It doesn't have one. It doesn't seem to be so much a fact checker as just another site publishing opinion pieces, quite frankly.

Commenter

Arky

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:41PM

Ah, but the economist arguing the government did not save us from the GFC isn't just giving an opinion- it is based on peer-reviewed research.

Looks like the environemtn is in as good hands as the economy -"Hunt has had a bad year with numbers: he stumbled badly on Lateline in March when he confused square kilometres with kilometres square, and issued a press release welcoming Nicolas Sarkozy’s plan to drop a carbon tax, when the story was over a year old. Recently, he criticised the government’s carbon pricing package for including international carbon permits that the package in fact ruled out."

Commenter

Macca75

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:42PM

Didn't Shadow Climate Minister Greg Hunt write a thesis 20 years ago about the merits of an emissions trading scheme?

Now Hunt has to sell Abbott's inferior $62 per tonne, $720 p.a for the average household direct action plan which requires an unrealistic 2/3 of the land mass of Australia for soil abatement.

Well, I guess there's Abbott's 2 million work for the dole tree planting jobs.

Um- are you guys even going to cover why Rudd was actually in Devonport today? He's launched major funding for farmers but the only coverage you had was on climate policy. You shouldn't be skipping this stuff

Commenter

Landman

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:41PM

"Worse for Hunt, he was embarrassed by comments by Woorndoo farmer Mark Veale, whom Hunt met accompanied by popular first-term local MP Dan Tehan. Veale is a strong advocate for soil carbon and has already undertaken extensive work on carbon sequestration on his own property. However, he told the Terang Express that while he is willing to undertake soil carbon initiatives voluntarily, the Coalition’s plan “won’t be a big enough carrot” and “at the moment there’s not enough incentive”."Bernard Keane

Commenter

Macca75

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:41PM

"If correct, Hunt’s statement is profoundly damaging because “soil magic” is by far the cheapest abatement in the “Emissions Reduction Fund” costings. If it can only provide abatement for $8-$10 a tonne for 1-2 million tonnes of abatement, rather than the 85 million tonnes planned to be purchased by the Coalition, then the costings will dramatically blow out. Hunt’s costings already appear to have blown out once, after he stated in May that the average price of abatement purchased under his policy would be $15 a tonne, rather than about $11 a tonne in the Coalition’s original costings document.

But the costing of the policy, which has not been backed by any economists, agricultural scientists or climate scientists, has been one of its many weak points from the outset: Crikey reported in February last year that one of Australia’s leading soil carbon experts, Professor Alex McBratney, of Sydney University, believed biosequestration abatement would be more likely to cost $20-$40 a tonne"Bernard Keane

Commenter

Macca75

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:40PM

I just read the report that said Mr Rudd's answer on same-sex marriage was the "answer of the century". If the century is going to be that dull I'm glad I won't be here for most of it.

Commenter

David Morrison

Location

Blue Mountains

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:34PM

I thought of it as the answer of a man who has a speech writer that watched The West Wing.

Commenter

dcs

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:53PM

Abbott and Morrison do not have an opinion.

To join up with the rest of what they don't have.

Their boat is overflowing.

Commenter

J. Fraser

Location

Queensland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:30PM

"At an abatement price many multiples of that costed, the $3.2 billion budget for Direct Action won’t make much of a dent on emissions — the Australia Institute suggested it would yield about 18% of the needed abatement, based on Australian National Audit Office figures, meaning Australia’s emissions would rise under Direct Action, rather than fall. Moreover, Direct Action will likely fund energy efficiency projects that companies would have proceeded with anyway due to their overall cost-effectiveness.

Abbott’s commitment that not a single additional cent will be spent on emissions abatement is thus a clear abandonment of the 5% reduction target."

Bernard Keane

Commenter

Macca75

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:29PM

He should abandon it completely. He shouldn't spend one red cent on it.

Commenter

Lewis

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:36PM

Agreed with Lewis here. Direct Action is a joke, just funnelling cash to big business polluters. If Abbott is elected I'd hope he abandons it and just owns his position as not wanting to do anything real about climate change.

Commenter

Arky

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:50PM

Keane is certainly a voice of authority. He and J fraser are the fountains of all knowledge.

Commenter

Denny

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:07PM

I do love the way anytime someone presents a rational fact backed argument against a liberal policy the stooges on this site play the man and not the ball.the arguments can't be refuted so the just call the author names.

I hereby offer my unconditional apology to Mr Tony Abbott. A couple of weeks ago i publicly derided him over his comments regarding Fiona Scott's attributes of being feisty and having sex-appeal. I now see he was being truthful. They most probably are her best attributes.

Commenter

AL

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:23PM

Stop the jam!

Commenter

Lewis

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:44PM

If J Fraser and his pals could vote as many times as they post, then Kev might have a chance.

Commenter

Puzzled

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:22PM

"Puzzled" no longer puzzled.

Loses thread.

Commenter

J. Fraser

Location

Queensland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:34PM

They can! All they have to do is dress up as a homeless person & follow the mobile polling bus around. No fixed address? No I.D.? Not on the electoral roll? No Problem!

Commenter

Lewis

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:34PM

Is it possible to take out copyright over the terms:

Kruddtastrophe and Kruddostraphic

I can see many a headline come Sunday morning with these terms.

Commenter

Smokin Mo

Location

Ryde

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:21PM

So can I, if only because the art of an actually clever headline is stone dead.

Commenter

Arky

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:48PM

1950s Abbott supports Morrison when he says he will stop growth in Western suburbs of Sydney.

True Liberals aghast at thought of party not being for growth.

Polls for Abbott take dive.

"I don't believe the polls. I want to make it absolutely crystal clear - I do not believe these polls," Mr Abbott

Commenter

J. Fraser

Location

Queensland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:15PM

To true J Fray.As you have predicted Tony is behind in this race to the lodge. Rudd has Rudmentum and will stop the Abbottlanch. Just ask his fan club, they are all over twitter today. Inspired by the appearance of a LABOR red tie during his hour long taxpayer funded commercial on Shoe&A last night, the labor twitterati is madly forwarding tweets to each other on why the bible is wrong. #Ruddjitsu #Ruddmentum #ThisIsLabor

Commenter

Cwitty

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:29PM

For people who say the major parties are all the same, Rudd's answer to that pastor on Q&A hopefully serves as a reminder that one side of politics can evolve and grow... while the Coalition sit there crouching in the dark, clinging to nonsensical "tradition" out of fear of change.

Commenter

Arky

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:07PM

If Rudd has taught us anything its that he is ever the opportunist. It a poll came out with 90% against same sex marriage I sure he would get all churchy on us....you know it, I know it and the voting public on Sat know it

Commenter

Taxpayer

Location

here

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:19PM

No. It just demonstrates that Rudd forms his opinions based on what he thinks people want to hear in an effort to secure their votes.

He has been against gay marriage for years. He changed his mind to differentiate himself from Gillard.. part of his campaign to oust her.

Commenter

Puzzled

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:19PM

Abbott's squad waiting for a sign from above.

Commenter

J. Fraser

Location

Queensland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:19PM

What a load of rubbish. Rudd had published his opinion about this issue months ago, before he became leader again.

Anyway, this is just a non-issue because it should just have happened. Allow it to happen and move on. We don't need to keep hearing about it. Introduce it, then move on to more important things like how to ensure Australia stays a vibrant economy?

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:27PM

You can always tell when Rudd is about to say something he thinks is popular when he prefaces it with the word 'mate'.

Of course, Rudd professed the very same views up until just three months ago before his 'conversion'. But that couldn't stop him belittling the pastor on national television in front of his Q&A besties for not having similarly evolved. The opportunism is strong with this one.

Commenter

brian

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:36PM

If ever there was an ignorant and/or dishonest comment it was Mr Rudd's.

Commenter

David Morrison

Location

Blue Mountains

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:36PM

Whatever Rudd's reasons, it's the right stance and one most of the ALP came to ages ago (every state conference long since voted in favour of marriage equality being part of the party platform). Still waiting for the conservatives to abandon their nonsensical position instead of complain about Rudd.

Commenter

Arky

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:40PM

Arky- Being in favour of marriage equality is not the same as being in favour of same-sex marriage. People who are talking about a radical redefinition of marriage should be honest enough to say so.

Commenter

David Morrison

Location

Blue Mountains

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:57PM

David Morrison: I have no idea what you're talking about but I'd like to see you elaborate on what you mean. Is this going to be a Cory Bernardi style claim about bestiality?

Commenter

Arky

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:09PM

"Abbott's squad waiting for a sign from above"Will Rup be living upstairs in the Lodge?

Commenter

AL

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:32PM

Sorry, Arky. I thought I made it clear that I believe changing the defintion of marriage from male/female to male/male or femal/female is a radical change in the definition. How can I be plainer than that? Whatever does that have to do with Senator Bernadi, apart from the fact that he has the same view in common with millions of Australians?

Commenter

David Morrison

Location

Blue Mountains

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:23PM

David Morrison: It's not a radical change. This is a secular country. When it comes to the civil law, there's no excuse for using a Christian or Muslim or Jewish or Rastafarian or any other religion's defintion of "marriage". Defining it as between a man and a woman and discriminating against homosexual relationships is wrong. There's no logic in support of your position, and while millions may agree with you and Senator Bernardi, millions also disagree. And those millions are right.

"Tradition" is not a logical argument. Calling something a "radical change" is not a logical argument. It's just an appeal to fear of change.

Commenter

Arky

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:36PM

I find it interesting that when the Health debate was on wew ere told this site would not deliver a piecemeal series of updates but a thorough report at it's conclusion (it turned out that thorough report was posted just minutes before the site went off line and Tanya Plibersek was hardly mentioned in it) yet on immigration we must have a blow by blow.

Commenter

Macca75

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:07PM

Offer to volunteer help.

Or go with the flow.

Commenter

J. Fraser

Location

Queensland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:20PM

Can Morrison cut the three-star general crap? does anybody outside the defence force know what it means? For instance, how many are there in the ADF? How far up the tree is that? If there are 50 four and five star generals being a three star is not that flash

Commenter

Them

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:07PM

We don't have "star" generals at all. That's the Americans.

Commenter

dcs

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:54PM

The Liberals have a 2 star general in charge of troops in Afghanistan.

For the 'national emergency' of boat arrivals, the Liberals have a 3 star general.

Warped priorities, Liberals.

Commenter

Tristan

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:06PM

Dear Tony Abbott

The carbon price cannot hurt the economy in the way climate change will devastate it. One would think it prudent to cut back on our emissions now in a meaningful national way rather than citing one transport company's fuel reduction policy.

As a claimed environmentalist one would hope that you wish to preserve what remains of the Great Barrier Reef. But your climate change policy does not allow this.

Sea temperatures are continually rising, rising, sea temperatures will destroy the Great Barrier Reef in its entirety, this is a stated scientific fact. But you will allow our emissions to increase, because your emissions reduction policy does not work.

You claim a 50% reduction in emissions when you know full well this not true: Coal realises 70% of our power generation, so how have our emissions reduced 50%? The maths simply do not add up.

The fact is you do not wish to be burdened with the cost of emission reduction. You want growth and more growth, but what happens when you are unable to sell more coal?

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:07PM

....sell LNG

Commenter

Taxpayer

Location

here

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:16PM

Maybe Abbott had it right by talking up Fiona Scott's sex appeal as her best attribute, although blaming traffic jams on asylum seekers does seem pretty much on message for the xenophobes in the Coalition.

Commenter

Arky

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:02PM

The coalition has not won yet and I'm already afraid!

Commenter

Peter S

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:40PM

Scott never said the asylum seekers caused traffic jams. You are a dishonest liar but I shouldn't be surprised from the Labor faithful.

She simply made the connection that many in western Sydney battle with traffic congestion and when they see Labor dumping 50,000 illegal arrivals in western Sydney they are right to be annoyed.

Can all those who advocate for open borders on this site please tell us how many illegal arrivals they personally house, feed and clothe under the community detention network?

Commenter

Nulla

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:17PM

Nulla: she drew a connection between traffic jams and asylum seeker arrivals, but I'm a dishonest liar? Pffft.

Commenter

Arky

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:36PM

Seeing as I've been on here for some time, I thought I might mention how I will be voting. After careful consideration, and of no surprise I am sure to the Liberal Lovers on here, I will be voting Greens in both the upper and lower house, and will preference Labor.

I have considered both Liberal and Labor and have decided that neither have the policies that I agree with, and neither have impressed me with their behaviour. Liberal will go down the bottom of my vote paper together with the other extreme parties.

Labor deserves a special mention. They have a single policy that I am interested in, and that's the nation building NBN. I believe that the Liberal NBN is a complete waste of money and that they should be a shamed to call themselves economic managers.

My vote goes the the Greens also because of the Liberal and Labor disgraceful boat policy. They are spending far more money than they need to, and they are being inhumane about it. Stop picking on a desperate minority and set up a processing centre in Indonesia and there will be no need for people to travel by boat. This is a Green and Malcolm Fraser policy. And the Liberals policies are just bizarre.

Finally (and not the only other reason), I do not believe that we should reward big business for pollution via an ETS. We should make carbon polluters pay a price, not give them taxpayers money. Taxpayers money should be used for more important things than rewarding polluters.

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:57PM

Your vote will be counted for Labor. You are voting for three more years like the last 6.

Commenter

Cwitty

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:12PM

At least he isn't voting for 3 more years like 1954!

Commenter

Macca75

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:15PM

Well done Tone.

I am moving towards the same point of view as the one you have reached. However, if I do vote in the lower house I will not allow Green preferences to go to either Labor or the Coalition. I am afraid my patience for these twins of identical policies has passed tolerance.

It actually begs belief how any rational person could contemplate voting for either of them. Basically the choice is liar A or liar B? Hello?

Ooh I'm going to vote for a liar look at me? If it was not so pathetically sad it would be humorous.

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:18PM

Cwitty, I don't have a problem with that. I couldn't care less about Rudd or Abbott, but I hate just about every one of the Liberal policies, including the ones that the Liberals have managed to get Labor to implement.

My funding goes to the Greens.

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:42PM

Pen - I will take your advice and look at the vote sheet and see who I can preference before Labor. The important thing here is to vote for a candidate that can actually get voted in in my area.

If that's going to be between Liberal and Labor then I will prefer Labor over Liberal basically because of the policies and that I dislike most of the politicians in the Liberal Party due to their blatant dishonesty. Yes, that Labor Party are dishonest too, but their policies are less harmful to the Australian people.

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:43PM

@ Tone,

Mate I agree with with you for the most part and my views on the NBN have been made known on this site and others; it is because of those views that it is the single most important piece of infrastructure for our Nation that we will see in our lifetime that I will be voting the way I am.

I'm unsure where these comments come from about fearing the next three years as being like the last 6. Yes there have been errors made, yes there has been infighting however show me one Government in the history of our nation that hasn't made some errors?

Labor has kept us in positive growth, avoided a recession, employment has remained steady etc etc. On this basis alone given the most challenging global economical conditions since the Great Depression they should be given the opportunity for another term.

Maybe the best way to get my point across is to quote one of Abbott's rare moments of clarity;

"Confronted with two unpalatable and unavoidable options, it’s morally permissible to choose the lesser evil but not to choose the lesser evil when no choice is necessary. "

On Saturday the lesser evil is Labor.

Commenter

Chippsy

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:48PM

Abbott and senior Shadow Minister agree :

Mr Morrison offers one the great truisms of Australian political life: "As I'm sure Tony will agree there's not too many people trying to get our jobs on either side of the political fence."

Do we really have to read this sort of meaningless dribble? Surely, Fraser, you can make a point without this sort of rubbish.

Commenter

Puzzled

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:52PM

@"Puzzled"

If I could figure out your pseudonym I would offer you some help.

Commenter

J. Fraser

Location

Queensland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:11PM

Unfortunately, Steph, this is the highest level of debate we can expect from those on the left.

Commenter

Simon

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:17PM

"Puzzled" elected the funny bone of the Abbott cheer squad.

Unanimous decision.

Commenter

J. Fraser

Location

Queensland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:17PM

Yes Frase, how you're back here after telling everyone how it was a sinking ship, and how much better things were over at The Guardian.

Did you wear out your welcome after five minutes or something?

Commenter

SteveH.

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:29PM

J Fraser must work for the age, only someone so close to the editor could be allowed to publish such waffle and so often

Commenter

genghis

Location

Saturday night party night, no rudds allowed

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:29PM

That question put to Rudd on what Labor will do about carbon pricing should the Coalition win is pretty silly. As if Rudd will have any say at all on anything if the Coalition win.

Commenter

Lewis

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:43PM

Journalism school flooded with Journalists looking for refresher courses.

East coast State governments admit Tafe closures means Australia stuck with current crop.

Everyone sad.

Commenter

J. Fraser

Location

Queensland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:55PM

Well Labor haven't listened to the electorate for six years, so why start now.

If elected, the Coalition would have a clear mandate to remove the carbon tax, but it seems Labor would refute this. This election is clearly a referendum on the carbon tax, and truth in government.

When Howard lost in 2007, the Coalition accepted Work choices was repudiated by the people, and passed the ALP changes.

At least if there is a double dissolution, it would be a chance for the voters to send an even stronger message to Labor and the Greens. It seems that neither hear voter messages very well.

Commenter

Hacka

Location

Canberra

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:41PM

If there is a double dissolution then that would be the voters' 3rd attempt to send a message on pricing carbon doixide... each one louder than the previous.

Commenter

Lewis

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:47PM

@"hacka"

Be honest .... you haven't listened to Labor.

Don't try to drag others into your nightmare.

Commenter

J. Fraser

Location

Queensland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:48PM

Fraser - you clearly haven't noticed but most of the electorate have stopped listening to Labor.

Very much looking forward to a Rudd speech around 10pm on Saturday night.

You still calling a 10 seat win ?

Commenter

Hacka

Location

Canberra

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:52PM

Claiming the election is a referendum on a single issue is always iffy (Workchoices in 2007 is the only election I can remember where that was arguably the case... maybe also Hewson's GST in 1993). In this case I thought it was meant to be a referendum on Labor's handling of the economy (or, really, on how Labor's handling of the economy has been reported and spun).

Heck, claiming the election is being decided on the carbon tax is akin to claiming it's being decided on the issue on which the Coalition and their media friends have been the most deceptive and dishonest. Wouldn't do that if I were them.

Commenter

Arky

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:01PM

Abbott in trouble.

Polls unreliable.

Abbott may lose his seat (and budgies).

Murdoch in a tither.

Pell praying.

Media looking for excuses.

Abbott cheer squad desolate (most Aussies can't see any difference).

Commenter

J. Fraser

Location

Queensland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:37PM

Stop the bus it is a 10 seat victory to Julia Gillard..PS was it intentional that this comment reads like a Japanese Haiku?

Cwitty: The sad thing is your side has done pretty well in getting people to believe that asylum seekers get off the boats and get given a free job, a free house, a plasma TV and now apparently the ability to clog the traffic on the M4. You joke, I joke, but that's exactly the kind of rubbish that has been winning votes for the Coalition, thanks to their friends in the media repeating it ad nauseum.

Commenter

Arky

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:43PM

Taxpayer

Go back to the UK coal industry in the 1960's-70's and what it is today. Are you suggesting that what the UK did we cannot do? How much coal does Canada export, yet producers multiple more green energy than we do?

Do you genuinely believe that we can keep producing billions of tonnes of CO2 each year and get away with it? Can anyone actually be that naive?

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:36PM

Thatcher broke the coal miners Union because she was ahead of her time on climate change. Are you suggesting we break our mining unions? Wow.. I din't know how good Maggie really was.

Commenter

Cwitty

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:50PM

not naive and I do think you are rather selective in your facts. You quote per capita when it suits and absloutes when that suits. Any way you cut it whatever we do down here in Oz pales into insignificance compared to whats happening in places like India and China. I applaud your zeal, you are wasted here, if you really want to make a difference go to china and india and start there....we could go back to the stone age here on fossil fuels and it won't make a difference to the world equation. But you already knew that

Commenter

Taxpayer

Location

here

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:08PM

Pen, I just saw your 11.44 photo and take it all back

Commenter

Taxpayer

Location

here

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:14PM

Taxpayer

I repeat in 2012 China spent $109.8 billion on green energy. The USA despite its financial woes invested $35 billion. India has set aside US$7.9 billion to facilitate the flow of renewable energy into its electricity grid.

In 2011 India produced 162 billion KWh through green energy compared to Australia’s 29 billion KWh. China 797 billion KWh, and the USA 520 billion KWh. Canada of similar size and population to that of Australia produced 399 billion KWh.

Australia being the greatest producer of Co2 per capita is so far down the list of green energy producing countries it is embarrassing.

While the rest of the world is investing hundreds of billions of dollars on green energy to fight climate change, we in Australia have been systematically made paranoid to believe the carbon tax is the worst of all evils. But our GDP is around 1.3-1.5 trillion dollars, the carbon tax is a miniscule 0.26 - 0.3% of this.

Why has Abbott built his entire campaign around resisting an expenditure of little consequence? There is only one answer: the carbon tax represents the thin end of the wedge for those who hold power in the coal industry.

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:25PM

...cause the carbon tax does not actually alter the fuel choice. It would need to be 5 -10x higher to dissuade industry on a cost basis (no one is that stupid to actually hammer us by that much). Which leaves the carbon tax as a 'slush fund' for redistribution of tax revenues. So the ALP have built a system that ticks the box for the greens, does nothing to change the fuel mix and creates a pool of revenues they can choose to redistribute to their besties.....ps. I checked Australia's investment in renewables in 2012 vs China...we outspent them two to one. Care to guess how much they outspent us on fossil fuels?

Commenter

Taxpayer

Location

Here

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:42PM

on a per capita basis of course

Commenter

Taxpayer

Location

Here

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:46PM

Brisbane house prices jump in last quarter.

Gerry Harvey says sales are up.

Interest rates at record low.

Will Abbott promise to keep interest rates low ?

Ha !

Commenter

J. Fraser

Location

Queensland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:34PM

I sincerely hope NOT! A pox on emergency low interest rates :(

Commenter

Lewis

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:52PM

It's just the same "deal" as Sportsbet paying out early on the election. People are comfortable that they know the result and are beginning to move on from the uncertainty of this ludicrous ALP/Greens/Indie shambles.

Commenter

Puzzled

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:54PM

The message from both Labor & the Coalition seems to be that if we don't vote "Y" (Coalition in the NSW Senate ballot paper) then we will have a double dissolution over carbon tax and another election.Do we really want another election?

Commenter

Vulture

Location

Gladesville

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:32PM

If you don't ... then vote for Labor.

If you want anther election run by Murdoch then vote informal.

Just don't vote for Captain No.

Commenter

J. Fraser

Location

Queensland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:47PM

Abbott in all his radiant arrogance is now telling us, should he become PM labor will vote for removing the carbon tax. Abbott is all so back flipping on holding a double dissolution election.

Commenter

Tim

Location

InnerCity

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:26PM

There you have it Mathias Cormann is saying the opposite of Abbott about a double dissolution election.

Commenter

Tim

Location

InnerCity

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:33PM

There's no point having a double dissolution election if proportional representation means that he'll lose anyway. It's not like the population will vote all Liberals in when they know they have a dodgy Liberal government.

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:43PM

The upper house stands to become even more unworkable should a double dissolution election proceed and that would be in nobody's interest after the last 6 years. You need to at least give the man a few minutes in the Prime-ministership before you judge him therein.

Commenter

Fred

Location

Bloggs

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:47PM

If you think that in winning by a sizeable margin when one of his key policies since Gillard broke her promise to the people isn't a mandate then I'd like to know what is. If the ALP loses and still refuses to pass core political policies then it is the ALP who is arrogant.

Commenter

Puzzled

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:51PM

When it comes to the Manufacturing sector or foreign investment Labor are Economic nationalist – “We can’t afford for THEM to do it”When it comes to the Budget Labor are Economic conservatives “We can’t afford the interest payments of big deficits”When it comes to social progression that Labor conceived, like NDIS or GONSKI, Labor are economic socialists “We can’t afford not to do it for our Children and our future”When it comes to a superior progressive scheme, that Labor did not conceive, like PPL. Labor become economic rationalist. “We can’t afford it at all” What does Labor really stand for? @tristan

Commenter

Cwitty

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:14PM

Pragmatism !

Commenter

Opto

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:41PM

You mean Populisim!

Commenter

Cwitty

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:43PM

Cwitty - Yeah the ALP is populist and the Libs are true to their ideology - keep telling yourself that if it hepls you to sleep at night,

Commenter

Macca75

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:10PM

@ 10.54 - Does he do that so no one can seem him crossing his fingers?

Commenter

tasch2

Location

Mornington Peninsula

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:06PM

Four more sleeps then he is gooooone.

Commenter

Now you see him

Location

Soon you won't

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:05PM

Do you think Pell will have a position for him.

Or Gina.

Or Murdoch.

Gosh Abbott can take his pick of second class jobs.

And he is admirably suited for it after his failures of the last 20 years.

Commenter

J. Fraser

Location

Queensland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:40PM

Abbott won't have to moonlight in all his other jobs once he's PM. He'll be able to hang up his fluoros and treat the workers with contempt again! Oh won't that be a relief for him.

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:45PM

Almost 3 hours ago Rudd arrived in Tasmania. No pics, no story,no angry faces and grimaces to post, we are not even seeing Rudd's shoes.Balanced, almost like Sky news

Commenter

tashman1

Location

melb

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:57AM

Maybe if he went for a run or a ride on his bike - you know the important things -we would get some coverage

Commenter

Macca75

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:04PM

Almost 6 years ago Rudd arrived at the Lodge. No policies delivered, no promises kept, no leadership shown. No party unity.

Commenter

beasleyst

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:11PM

I typed that as I watched Rudd's interview on Sky. Rudd's comment still no reply but Abbotts conference is being reported

Commenter

tashman1

Location

melb

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:20PM

I've just looked outside and he is not there! Climbing the organ pipes perhaps? - no probably not! Maybe he's gone looking for some Tassie devils or he could be stuck on the tarmac at the airport awaiting clearance? Perhaps the bus has broken down or maybe the election campaign? Over to you!

Commenter

PDJ

Location

Down Under

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:57PM

Pen

Good to see you out and about with your hard hat on - Pulse @ 11:44

Commenter

$keptic

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:53AM

If you're the one on the left can I have your phone number Pen.

Commenter

SteveH.

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:03PM

@SteveH.

A bit to hot for you.

Commenter

J. Fraser

Location

Queensland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:38PM

Yes, I used to find him a real pest, but the more I see of him now, the more I understand him.

Commenter

beasleyst

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:44AM

Time for a bit of a reminder of what Krudd's colleagues really think of him:

"We need to get out of this idea that Kevin is a messiah who will deliver an election back to us. That is just, I think, fanciful ..." Nicola Roxon.

"There’s no doubt Kevin has been undermining the government for more than a year now.” Tony Burke.

"and Kevin..became increasingly impossible to work with and as a government we simply weren’t delivering the way we should have been able to." Tony Burke.

“What you’re seeing is an attempt to rewrite history. Kevin Rudd had contempt for the cabinet ... [and] what brought him down a year ago is that the Australian public figured out he had contempt for them” Senator Stephen Conroy.

"For too long, Kevin Rudd has been putting his own self-interest ahead of the interests of the broader labour movement and the country as a whole, and that needs to stop. The Party has given Kevin Rudd all the opportunities in the world and he wasted them with his dysfunctional decision making and his deeply demeaning attitude towards other people including our caucus colleagues." Wayne Swan.

"There is too much at stake in our economy and in the political debate for the interests of the labour movement and working people to be damaged by somebody who does not hold any Labor values." Wayne Swan.

If this is what Krudd's labor colleagues think of him, why should anyone vote for him or the tarnished labor brand.

Commenter

kp

Location

brisbane

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:44AM

because he's Kevin from Queensland and he's an underdog here to help?

Commenter

beasleyst

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:48AM

All forgotten and forgiven now. Bright shiny and new under the old Messiah!

Commenter

Fred

Location

Bloggs

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:51AM

Surely those comments were just Murdoch comments?

Commenter

dRod

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:01PM

J Fraser will

Commenter

Baltic13

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:32PM

Kelly "Pants on Fire" O'Dwyer, my local Liberal member for Higgins repeated Joe Hockey's lie about parental leave funding in last week's local newspaper.

Kelly O'Dwyer :"The Coalition's paid parental leave scheme will be administered through the Family Assistance Office and FULLY FUNDED through a 1.5% levy of the top 3,000 companies earning more than $5 million in taxable income."

SABRA LANE: That's not right, and the Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey corrected himself quickly, but he was challenged again on the details of what companies will pay.

NEIL MITCHELL: So what's the percentage, roughly?

JOE HOCKEY: Well it has to be at least 50 or 60 per cent, 60 or 70 per cent. But I'm not going to speculate Neil because it is - I haven't got the numbers in front of me, in a car."

www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2013/s3828937.htm

Commenter

Tristan

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:37AM

Perhaps there is a little xenophobia creeping into Parliament ?

Commenter

PDJ

Location

Canberra ?

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:30AM

It didn't creep in. It made speeches. And it wasn't just Pauline Hanson- it's the Coalition who discovered they were onto a winner pitching to the same xenophobic streak in society that Hanson brought into the light, and assuring them that they were OK to not be "politically correct".

Commenter

Arky

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:55PM

As a resident of Wannon I don't blame Bradley Ferguson for not coming down, his chances of winning are zero - this electorate would vote liberal even if the candidate admitted to mass murder.

Commenter

Macca75

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:25AM

On a visit to an Adeliade family this morning Tony Abbott tells them "how much cheaper life would be under a coalition government"How disappointed this family is going to be once they realise what a lie this is. Do people really believe that the the cost of living is magically going to fall with an LNP government in office?

Commenter

CPS

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:24AM

CPS - Great article in the Age over the weekend about the "Affluenza Epidemic" in Australia which covers the "Cost of living" myths.

But it would want ot be cheaper under a coalition govt considering they are taking away the school kids bonus, low income super rebate and grealty reducing the immediate write off of assets for small business.

Commenter

Macca75

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:33AM

I would like to draw the attention of voters to the two television appearances of the leaders yesterday. I first watched the Lee Sales interview with Tony Abbott and found the answers he gave appeared to be well rehearsed and preconceived as do most of the statements he has made throughout the last 5 weeks. But when he has to answer questions where he has to think of an answer he appears to flounder. This became evident when he was asked questions on the crisis in Syria, it became obvious that he had little grasp of the situation and resorted to a sit on the fence attitude which just emphasised his inadequacies in his knowledge of foreign affairs.I then watched Kevin Rudd’s appearance on Q&A and was pleasantly surprised (in view of the extreme pressure he must be under) how relaxed and competent he appeared. He handled many difficult questions with logical and convincing answers and even when confronted by a religious question on gay marriage he explained his views concisely and his answers appeared to be popular with the audience both young and old. In contrast Tony Abbott elected not to show up apparently convinced that he can slide into government without any scrutiny from the voters in a possible antagonistic environment that may show up his shortcomings. I would urge anyone who did not see these two shows to revisit them (on Facebook or IView) and compare the competence of the two leaders. I for one do not want a leader who cannot think for himself without a script and could prove to be an embarrassment to his country on the international stage.

Commenter

antique/tweed heads

Location

Gold Coast

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:13AM

@antique/tweed heads

Journalist from both Murdoch and Fairfax Media have watched both .... but they couldn't believe their eyes or ears so they went with the Murdoch line.

Let it go mate. He simply doesn't want to go on your show. It is a poor second cousin to the 7.30 Report consistently rating below it. I have watched it a couple of times and certainly wouldn't recommend it.

Insult him all you like - it won't get himm on an inferiror show such as Q&A.

Commenter

Smokin Mo

Location

Ryde

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:21PM

I agree totally. And to make it even worse, Abbott's interview was pre-recorded. Makes you wonder how much editing happened!

Commenter

EM

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:40PM

OK, today's BIG QUESTION:

Who will be the first Labor cabinet minister to turn on Kev Saturday evening? And at what time?

Commenter

byebyekev

Location

byebyeLabor

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:10AM

I know he's not in parliament yet, but I reckon Paul Howes will start at around 4:45pm.

Commenter

beasleyst

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:29AM

Expect such winners as:"Kevin went off message after day one". "Kevin was a disruptive force in the party and this was the only way we could get rid of him""I think the Labor party will be a stronger party without Kevin Rudd"

Commenter

notlad

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:38AM

I reckon Tanya Plibersek has been biting her tongue of late. I will go with her to be the first.

Tanya has distanced herself so far from Labor it's not funny. Even her website has changed it's colours from the traditional red and blue to purple!

Commenter

beasleyst

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:04PM

Shorten biding his time...ready to pounce...But he is not what Labor need either. Someone less Unionish with a broader view and some of that lost lamented vision

Commenter

yys

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:14PM

I don't know who but probably the first one who loses his/her seat.

Commenter

Lewis

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:39PM

Christopher Pyne is my absolutely favourite politician. No pretending he isn't a politician..he is what he is and is proud of it.That makes him more honest than most in my book. Go Christopher!

Commenter

thereisnoyouinLabor

Location

brisbane

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:06AM

Opto

‘Moreover there is another order of Essenes, who agree with the rest as to their way of living and customs, and laws, but differ from them on a point of marriage…they try their spouses for three years; and if they find that they have their natural purgations thrice, as trials that they are likely to be fruitful, they then marry them (Wars of the Jews, 2, 8:2-14).

There you go Opto straight out of the Pharisee priests mouth?

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:06AM

This is no justification for a new script to Marriage. We are not here to do as we will - the end of that rule is chaos.

Commenter

Optimist

Location

Again!

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:45AM

Opto

Now you refute the marriage laws of our JJ Jesus. And presumably claiming that your JJ Jesus ruled over chaos? Where on earth do you think our current marriage rules come from?

Foundational Christian values? There are no foundational Christian values today. Do you have money? Do you pray before effigy? Do you work on the Sabbath? Do you understand that the poor are those who have all up to the community. Do you own land?

Obviously you are completely out of your depth.

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:17PM

No Pen you are go back to the writings of Moses Gen 2:24 also quoted by one infinitely greater than myself. I wish that it were different for you Pen truly do. Human wisdom is nothing only The Lord can open the eyes of the blind. Enjoy your voting Saturday and expect a new Prime Minister for this moment. Time will tell.Cheers

Commenter

Optimist

Location

Hi

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:37PM

Hi Stephanie, I hope the Age is paying you well, you must have the patience of a saint to do this column day in day out!

Commenter

Riddley Walker

Location

Inland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:59AM

Stephanie is doing a great job good on you Stephanie. Only 4 more sleeps. Wonder where Stephanie's vote is going on Saturday? Hmm!

Commenter

PDJ

Location

oh Hi

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:13AM

Who are the happy pair in the background of the Abbott photo. And. Don't mean ruddock and Pyne

Commenter

Rhm

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:53AM

Re: “Should an Abbott government increase funding for its direct action climate policy if it fails to meet the pledged emission reduction target?”

No. Abbott knows full well that his scheme cannot work in time to reduce Co2 to a rate that is not dangerous to our way of life. The reduction of 5% of year 2000 emissions is only 16 million tonnes. From our coal production this year alone it produced 1.184 billion tonnes of CO2? And Abbott is spending $3.2 billion on his scheme that CSIRO scientists have warned cannot reduce carbon emissions meaningfully for 100 years.

There are only two meaningful ways to reduce emissions: either we have nuclear power stations or we have concentrated solar power stations with salt storage, a mix of the two would be the best option. Abbott’s $3.2 funding would pay for three very large concentrated solar power stations as large as those currently being built in the USA. These would reduce our carbon footprint by billions of tonnes a year. Not to tackle climate change this way is nothing but a waste of tax-payers money and Abbott knows it.

Basically all Abbott is doing is pampering to the will of the coal, gas, and oil companies to cost of all of all of us.

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:50AM

"Abbott knows full well that his scheme cannot work in time to reduce Co2 to a rate that is not dangerous to our way of life"

Given our contribution to the world's carbon emissions - explain to me how anything we do independently could have any ACTUAL TANGIBLE impact on overall global emissions - let alone the climate.

Commenter

Jimc

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:08AM

We are intractably attached to the world aren't we? Nevertheless a Solar array with Salt storage as a means of power generation and storage is based on very good and practical science. Of course you need backup and gas is vastly superior to coal. Back to the election comments section.Cheers again

Commenter

Opto

Location

Why Hi

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:21AM

No Abbott shouldn't increase funding for his direct action plan to meet 2020 emission targets - because his policy is a piece of crap and a huge waste of money.

Commenter

Tristan

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:38AM

Jimc

That is t the point, Jim. Every other western nation is doing more for climate change than we are. To make matters worse we create more emissions per capita than any other country including China and the USA.

The fact is the USA, China and India spend more on climate change in a year than we do in 20 years. Then what we do spend is spent on highly inefficient systems like wind turbines, which at best are only 32% efficient on an annual basis. But they are cheap?

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:27PM

I thought Craig Thomson was broke? Ahh the spin, of course. He printed all his material on his canon 3-in-1 at home.

Commenter

beasleyst

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:49AM

He found a spare old credit card down behind the couch.

Commenter

dcs

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 2:51PM

Kevin Rudd on Q&A last night gave a shocking new estimate of the death toll among the boat people he helped lure to Australia : One in thirteen people drown - since Kevin Rudd scrapped our tough border laws in 2008, more than 50,000 boat people have arrived. One thirteenth of that is 3846 - ALP's disgrace

Commenter

Baltic13

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:48AM

I wonder how many more are going to die on Tony Abbott's watch. Oh, we won't know because of his:

Tony Abbott will just order the boats to be dragged out into international waters, so the Liberals don't count it as a boat arrival.

Just as the Liberals achieved the "lowest unemployment in 30 years" by hiding the long term unemployed in work for the dole projects, Job Network bogus jobs, subsidised jobs, casual, deadend 15 hr jobs, and by cancelling Newstart altogether - aka "breaching".

Commenter

Tristan

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:42AM

Amazing how boat people deaths are suddenly the reason Coalition supporters give out for their asylum seeker policy.

I don't recall that being the focus when Howard (and Abbott, for that matter) were busy declaring that they decide who comes to this country or the circumstances in which they come, or that being the focus when they wanted to turn back boats in the water, or demonizing asylum seekers in the "children overboard" days, or letting them be maltreated in detention. It's dishonest. Fiona Scott has shown that the Coalition are really still just about demonizing refugees. Crocodile tears for those who drown as a way of attacking Labor.

Commenter

Arky

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:47PM

He may have gotten it printed on the Central Coast but the key question is who paid for it? Was it Sam Dastyari again?

Commenter

Nulla

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:43AM

Photo @ 10.23

Cute dog on L plates.

Commenter

yys

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:36AM

This is what TA had to say in a speech in 2004;

"There is much that Christians have to accept on faith but nothing to stop them accepting with equal assurance the truths of science and human wisdom."

The same TA said this earlier in the campaign;

''so-called market in the non-delivery of an invisible substance to no one''

So now in order to grab a few votes he's contradicting himself, already paving the way to back away from any "Direct Action" on the basis that they probably can't pay for it anyway and setting us backwards when it comes to tackling a major issue for the world - not only now but going forward generations. This is the same guy who's wants to shut down the Clean Energy Fund which makes money over time.

Commenter

Chippsy

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:28AM

You may not like the snarky tone of it but it is 100% true that a carbon dioxide trading scheme IS a 'So called market in the non-delivery of an invisible substance to no-one'I like Pens Idea of nuclear power - possibly the first authentic comentor on the need for carbon free energy. PLUS Australia has the largest known uranium reserve in the world at Olympic dam.

Commenter

Cwitty

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:03AM

Pommy born Abbott supports the people smugglers by giving them billions of dollars but he is taking away billions of dollars from Holden workers..Whats wrong with this bloke?

Commenter

Steeden

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:24AM

What on earth are you talking about?

Commenter

what da

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:30AM

Thats pretty rich coming from the Labor Party who's only policy detail in the past six years has been devising a renewed business model for the people smugglers. Labor has completely abrogated the responsibility of a Federal government to secure the nations borders and control its immigration program. For that reason alone they should be turfed out of office.

Commenter

Nulla

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:30AM

Labor hysteria rises, only 3 shopping days left Steeden, then its bye-bye time.

Commenter

SteveH.

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:32AM

Steeden

I'm guessing that many commenters would agree with the following statement:

Who cares where Abbott was born, except you?

Commenter

yys

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:34AM

How does Abbott (who is in opposition) support people smugglers by billions of dollars?

Commenter

Brettie

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:42AM

Steedon, your outbursts become more outrageous by the day, how is Abbott giving people smugglers billions, your desperate attempts to continuously discredit him have fallen on deaf ears, and the Holden workers will know how to vote for on Saturday, they see right through Kevin Rudd.

Commenter

Peter G

Location

Drummoyne (Reid will fall to the LNP)

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:50AM

The only party that has actually taken money away from local car manufacturers are Labor through the FBT changes - I'm not even going to mention how many jobs that also cut from the finance industry. Now Labor proposes to fix that problem by throwing more than the money gained by the FBT changes directly at the car manufacturers. But who is going to buy the cars, if the FBT changes mean that the previous buyers now can't afford to? Labor have been killing jobs and opportunity by rash decisions and unintended consequences. Just look at the live cattle export ban for another example.

Commenter

Julia by 10 seats

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:57AM

And the place of his birth indicates what exactly? The word stupid is on my lips.

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:58AM

Well Liberal Lovers, can you name any major infrastructure projects that John Howard implemented while in government?

Liberal Party governments are do nothing governments.

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:04AM

Wow Steeden man way out. Is the said Abbott then in cahoots with the people smugglers? What then spending Billions perhaps buying boats for the people smugglers to buy them back when they get here. A new take. Forgive me but I thought that Labor were in power for now anyhow and that they were going to change the FBT arrangements that was going to have a devastating effect on Australian manufactured motor cars. I must have been wrong.

Commenter

PDJ

Location

oh Hi

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:05AM

Julia by 10 seats,

Abbott declares it's such a budget emergency but he can afford to dole out non-means tested middle class welfare - up to $81,937 per child with his goldplated parental leave scheme, remove means testing of private health insurance rebates and entrench FBT rorting for simpletons who can't keep a logbook of their actual business mileage for 12 weeks over 5 years.

Commenter

Tristan

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:46AM

@Tristan: I for one consider the Coalition PPL an important progressive social reform that we need to have if we intend to bridge the pay and super gap for women. Please stop only quoting the extreme end of the scale - or maybe someone will start comparing how much tax that same extreme end of the scale pays compared to the lower end of the scale (sometimes none). It is not middle class welfare - it is a gender equality policy. If you have a mortgage and you are the main breadwinner in a relationship, it is not fair that you must forgo having children, just so that you can keep the family home. So the PPL is a long overdue reform that simply mirrors what already exists in the public service and also in most advanced social democratic countries. Labor with all it's misogyny charges at Abbott, is simply failing to see the policy for what it is: The biggest genuine women equality policy for decades. Maybe Abbott is not a misogynist after all - eh?

Commenter

Julia by 10 seats

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:27PM

Julia By 10 Seats,

There's that sense of entitlement again.

So much for Joe Hockey's "End of the Age of Entitlement" speech in London, eh?

Abbott's got an election to win, so to heck with his so called "budget emergency".

Commenter

Tristan

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 3:44PM

@Tristan: I would say that the people paying the absolute majority of tax should not be afraid to feel some entitlement over the people who pay no tax whatsoever. If the "system" can't be there to help you when you actually need it, what is the "system" for? Would you rather a massive brain-drain with all our talent moving to countries that better support aspiration? Such a situation would send Australia broke in no time. How about we support our smart, entrepreneurial women instead of constantly just hitting them with more taxes? Smart, educated, aspirational people are incredibly mobile you know. Don't throw out the baby with the bath water!!

Commenter

Julia by 10 seats

Location

J. Fraser's Crystal Ball

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:03PM

"So the PPL is a long overdue reform that simply mirrors what already exists in the public service and also in most advanced social democratic countries."

Julia By 10 Seats,

What I find hilarious is you pitching a Liberal goldplated parental leave scheme, while talking about the benefits available in the public service and social democratic countries while complaining about paying high taxes.

In other words, you want the European style welfare benefits with the Singapore/Hong Kong/Cayman Islands rate of income taxes.

Commenter

Tristan

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:14PM

@Tristan: You clearly don't get it. We need to look after our highest tax payers. Not the Billionaires who pay no tax, but the upper middle class people who pay the wast majority of tax. If you take away the incentive to work hard and prosper, then you take away the will to work hard. Countries like the US, Singapore etc., may not only have low taxation, they also have companies willing to offer incredible incentives for expats. Yes - it is not all wonderful if you are poor in those countries, but if you work hard, are loyal, well educated and talented, you (and your kids) will be well looked after. That is for the sole reason that you generate jobs and wealth for the country. Here in Australia, if you are an employer or taking risks, you are almost a pariah in the Labor system. It makes no sense from a economic or social perspective - but the tall poppy syndrome is so ingrained within Labor it defies logic.

Commenter

Julia by 10 seats

Location

J. Fraser's Crystal Ball

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:39PM

Message to voters in the seat of Griffith -

A vote for Bill Glasson is a vote for Bill Glasson

A vote for Kevin Rudd is still a vote for Bill Glasson

When Rudd retires from politics next week, save yourselves the cost and inconvenience of the by-election now by just voting Glasson in on Saturday.

It would be a practical decision.

Commenter

Tim of Altona

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:24AM

So if I mark my ballot 1 Kevin Rudd, some sort of magical ink will transpose his name to Bill Glasson? Do you believe in fairies too?

Commenter

tasch2

Location

Mornington Peninsula

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:29AM

Still with the disinformation "Timmy".

Trying to give Murdoch a run for his money.

Commenter

J. Fraser

Location

Queensland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:29AM

Very good Tim may as well give him a firm round of applause what !

Commenter

PDJ

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:47AM

tasch,

You poor thing. Your ballot paper won't have Kevin Rudd's name on it!

Commenter

beasleyst

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:59AM

Good point..... he will retire within a month.... to get a member close to a future government

I was trying to figure out which had more brains or a better temperament.

Pyne or the brick.

The brick won by a country mile.

Commenter

J. Fraser

Location

Queensland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:30AM

Wrong spot, he prefers to ride out back on the tray, but its strictly no barking.

Commenter

SteveH.

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:43AM

Why on earth would anybody vote for these backward looking characters?

Commenter

JohnPollock6

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:12AM

@JohnPollock6

Abbott is not so much "backward looking" but more living in the 1950s.

But I see you get the picture.

Commenter

J. Fraser

Location

Queensland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:23AM

It's compulsory.. like having to choose between cold turkey or ham on boxing day.

Commenter

tasch2

Location

Mornington Peninsula

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:26AM

I was in regional north eastern Thailand at the end of last year and they already had Fibre to the Node. I was getting 24Mbps in a regional area. All the Liberals are promising with their NBN is to get us up to a speed that matches what a third-world country already has. We need to behave like a first-world country or we will become that third-world country. We need the Labor NBN not the lame Liberal version.

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:10AM

24 Mbps and you are not happy?What do you want to do, run a data centre from your home?

Commenter

what da

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:20AM

Tone, you are beginning to sound like a broken record. The NBN is a massive waste of money. Just look at the uptake rate, where it has already been put in place. And don't start on the tele-health rubbish as a reason to run fibre to the home, because the only places tele-health will really be used are probably in remote areas with satellite only - and that is never going to hit 100Mbs upload is it? The "we can run small business from home" is also a silly argument. You can do that today, with massive bandwidth using cloud services such as Amazon Web Services. What person in their right mind would run a large web-site from home? In the end, all the NBN is going to be is an entertainment platform, so that people can download porn, cheaper movies from the US and do faster gaming and postings to Facebook. Do we really need to spend north of $50B to achieve that - when our hospitals are bursting at the seams, our roads are choking and our trains overfilled? All that money could have done so much more greater good had it not been for some kind of "digital envy". Please enlighten me how you use (or not) all that bandwidth you now have. What "killer app" (that you couldn't run over ADSL) are you using today that you can't live without? The only few people that will genuinely benefit from the NBN are multimedia people (photographers etc.) That is not justification for the massive amounts of money being blown.

Commenter

Julia by 10 seats

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:28AM

Tone: I am in the IT industry for more than 40 years - trust me (as you do KR), NBN is a white elephant, there have been much better technologies - NOT fibre-based 5 years ago - but they would have required knowledge AND vision ... and I am not saying I support the Coalition's implementation either ... but please don't tell me about Thailand, etc, tell me about Japan or Singapore or .... many examples ... but they have not been designed on the back of a napkin ...

Commenter

ET

Location

Lakesland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:30AM

@"what da"

Anything would be better than sitting at your place weaving baskets.

Commenter

J. Fraser

Location

Queensland

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:32AM

Not over 24 Mbps. That's rubbish speeds. I have 100Mbps already in my home office. But I can't upload at anything more than 2Mbps.

The Liberals are promising about quarter of the speed of what I already have, and they're spending almost as much as Labor to do it. If they're going to spend the 30 billion dollars, why not spend it on something of value - a higher speed fibre to the home network.

No Denny, they are pretty much limited to 100Mbps. If you had read my comment you would see that other countries are already planning 10Gbps. 100Mbps is what I have already. 10Gbps is 100 times faster than what I have now.

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:07AM

ET, I have grown up with computers and have done computer science and communications engineering. I can tell you right now that you are absolutely wrong and need to go back to school. Your knowledge is out of date. I'm betting you couldn't envision any of the technology we currently have.

You cannot get faster than fibre. Fibre signals can operate at light speed. They aren't affected by crosstalk. They don't deteriorate anywhere near as fast as copper. The copper network will need to be maintained at a cost of $1 billion dollars per year.

Copper has a maximum theoretical speed of around 1 Gbps. Fibre has been tested in the labs in the Petabytes.

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:14AM

Why are people so hung up about a visionary idea that was written down on a napkin? I have written some of my best and most profitable ideas on napkins. Is having it written down on a napkin something that somehow threatens you? Is it something that you people can point score on because you think it somehow detracts from the idea? I've got news for you. The napkin is irrelevant. It's the execution of a brilliant idea that is the important thing.

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:18AM

Tone if you are the IT wizz that you claim then you must be earning north of $250K a year. Pay for you own bloody connection to the FTN. Why should Ipay for millionaires like you to have FTH?

Commenter

Denny

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:34AM

"It's the execution of a brilliant idea that is the important thing."

And there lies the problem with Labor Tone. It's been their Achilles heel for ever. That's what happens when your party consists of union hacks that could never make it in their industries, as "doers".

Commenter

beasleyst

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:35AM

As I keep saying, I don't care who implements it as long as it's fibre to the home. The Liberals are spending just as much money on the NBN so why can't they just do it properly?

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:44AM

Denny, yes its true, and more. I can afford it, but that's not the point. The point is that if all Australians have fast internet we get all the benefits that come with that, including a modern information economy.

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:46AM

Beasleyst

I think Tone's inadvertently shot himself in the foot with that comment.

If you still work in the IT industry (not recruitment) and you vote for Tony Abbott, then you're shooting yourself in the foot, because the Liberals have been largely responsible for facilitating the outsourcing and offshoring of skilled jobs, especially IT, since they introduced their widely rorted, semi-skilled 457 visa system.

IT offshoring companies including Tata Consultancy Services (which 7.30 reported was misusing the 457 system to displace Australian IT workers), are agitating for an Abbott victory as they have an "understanding" with the Coalition that tech offshoring will accelerate under an Abbott government.

"Indian technology giants are bulking up on government sector expertise ahead of an expected Coalition victory in the September federal election, with the belief that a Coalition government will adopt an aggressive approach to sending public sector work offshore as part of a search for savings."

"The Coalition has identified $75 billion in spending cuts and tax increases over four years, and the technology driving the machinery of government is expected to go under the microscope."

What are you talking about $keptic? Which comment was that? Have you got anything to add to the conversation or is it just snide pass-by comments?

If the Liberals win on Saturday I want you all to remember how you chose a third-world Thailand version of the Internet instead of a world class Japanese version of the Internet. I want you to tell you children and your grandchildren that you "just didn't know" what a stupid decision you made because you believed Malcolm Turnbull's nonsense.

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:33PM

So Tone you only support middle class welfare when you benefit. Says it all really but that is the labor way.

Commenter

Denny

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:49PM

Wrong again Denny - money spent on the NBN is building an economic environment for the future, one where people will be given the opportunity to build businesses and transact in the high speed information economy.

Middle class welfare is when you overtax the people then hand some of it back to the population, like John Howard and the Liberals did with the GST.

The NBN isn't just handing it back to the population - it's creating a world class economic environment to advance Australia.

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:19PM

Good work to Bianca Hall for revealing that the ALP is quietly preferencing the ultra extremist group Rise Up Australia in seats across Australia.

Just don't tell the people at Lakemba that the ALP is supporting the fight against the Islamification of Australia.

Commenter

Vulture

Location

Gladesville

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:09AM

Now just tell Australia that the Libs are preferencing RUA in more seats. Or isn't that controversial for them?

Commenter

BC

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:17AM

ummm, it is up to you who you vote for and preference in seats (and also the Senate if you complete the whole form), unless of course you are a drone that follows the cards which other drones hand out to you.

Commenter

tasch2

Location

Mornington Peninsula

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:19AM

In all fairness. Headline should have read "Both major parties give preferences to extremists" Nothing like a bit of biased reporting attempting to hide the whole story.

Commenter

CPS

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:26AM

Rudd told Australia last night that almost 4000 people have died coming to Australia by boats. 4000. What a disgrace. Rudd, labor, Burnside, Mann and all the other labor rusties should be ashamed of themselves.

Commenter

Denny

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:07AM

The sad thing is, Denny, that they're not.

Commenter

Simon

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:29AM

I wonder if Albo will be down at the NBN head office on Saturday night manning the shredding machines?

Turnbull should soon be getting his hands on that very elusive NBN progress report, the one that Albo had had enormous difficulty in locating in the piles of papers on this desk and when he found it covered it all over with big red DRAFT ONLY stamps - he still has the red ink stains on his fingers.

Commenter

Tim of Altona

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:07AM

Interesting that Kev avoided the question from someone in his own electorate last night."Will you stay in politics should Labor lose the election?".Kev will zip outa here faster than you can say "fair shake of the sauce bottle".

Commenter

dRod

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 9:53AM

that is IF he gets re-elected

Commenter

Rough-Ready

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:19AM

If he gets re-elected he will hang on and be a pain in the backside. He will be up to his dirty tricks of undermining and leaking because he is that type of personality trait.

Commenter

Sarah of Carnegie

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:37AM

picture 9:42..just look at the gloomy faces of the people behind Abbott,maybe their thinking "doesn't he ever shut up".

Commenter

Tory Tony

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 9:52AM

Actually it looks like his listening.

Commenter

Brettie

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:46AM

Alex photo @9.28 -

Looks almost surreal - Pyne in a dinky ute?

Clearly his perceived public persona may not be entirely accurate.

Commenter

Tim of Altona

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 9:44AM

Queenslanders may be turning to Clive Palmer in the Senate but I still think that it will be the ALP Senate Leader (whoever replaces Penny Wong) that will hold the whip hand in running Australia.

Commenter

Vulture

Location

Gladesville

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 9:43AM

Chris Pyne in a ute is hilarious. Hard to imagine many of the ex-union ALP guys and gals driving one.

Commenter

beasleyst

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 9:43AM

Christopher Pyne is my absolutely favourite politician. No pretending he isn't a politician..he is what he is and is proud of it.That makes him more honest than most in my book. Go Christopher!

Commenter

thereisnoyouinLabor

Location

brisbane

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:06AM

Yes, I used to find him a real pest, but the more I see of him now, the more I understand him.

Commenter

beasleyst

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:44AM

Well why isn't he more honest about "himself"?Then he might have some credibility.

Commenter

A country gal

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 4:02PM

What a crock is our politics, eh?

Don't want Rudd, don't want Abbott.

Bad luck to me, eh?

Democracy at work!

Commenter

Ade Scarrier

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 9:40AM

If you want to punish them, spread the funding money to other parties. Your first preference vote in each house is worth $2.47 - that's almost $5 of funding to the parties you put first.

notlad, I would much rather my funding go to them than Liberal or Labor if that's what people truly believe is closer to their beliefs. I don't like rewarding the mediocrity of Liberal or Labor, especially given the outrageous lies they've both been telling in this campaign.

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:41AM

There’s no reason to argue with those calling themselves deniers, the fact of calling themselves denier is ample reason to question their sincerity, if sincerity is beyond question one must conclude abject gullibility bordering on stupidity.

So is Abbott’s sincerity in question or is he simply gullible and stupid?

CSIRO scientists informed Abbott that his tree planting climate change policy is fairy land under the moon, short of a few New Testament miracles it won’t work for 100 years and then it’s funding is $4 billion short.

Not to be outdone in the insincerity market Abbott declared yesterday he won’t fund further miracles towards his fairyland under the moon scheme.

In terms of carrying our global share of green energy costs comparative to our global emissions Abbot would have Australia rank alongside Zimbabwe and the Ivory Coast. However they have a Great Barrier Reef to take care of; or a $50 million stone fruit industry. However as with Australia they will see a decline in pasture quality and growth; reduced stream flow and quality of water supply; crop yield vulnerability to reduced and heavy rainfall; and stock and crops subject to heat-related stress and disease. The cost to Australia alone is in tens of billions. Nevertheless Abbott admits his “direct action” policy may not reach the 5 per cent emissions cut by 2020, however, he won’t fund it further.

Abbott is saying that his policy is in agreement with CSIRO finding: it cannot cut emission by a paltry 16 million tonnes while this year’s coal production 414 million tonnes produces 1.184 billion tonnes in emissions and he intends spending $3.2 billion of our money to prove his point?

So we are left with no alternative than to label Abbott gullible and stupid.

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 9:38AM

If you say so, pen. Yet, I'd rather back gullible and stupid than ignorant and vapid."Homosexuality is a natural occurence."Haven't had such a laugh for ages - what a loser!

Commenter

Ade Scarrier

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 9:53AM

Pen, just read an article on renewables in the Malaysian Star. Production of Chinese PV panels increasing after a two year dip. Very optimistic forecast. Won't be thanks to OZ though, if the coal sniffing "roads scholar" wins the race.

Commenter

A country gal

Location

KL

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:40AM

Capping the Direct Action spend at $3.2B is not good enough. He should dump the whole stupid idea entirely.

Commenter

Lewis

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:54AM

Ade Scarrier

What on earth are you on about? Homosexuality? Where have I mentioned this? Put your glasses on, if you don't have any then see an optician quick.

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:57AM

Pen, how do you reconcile a domestic green policy with our massive coal export policy? they are incompatible. If you think the answer is to dismantle the coal industry I think you had better find another island.....Australia relies on coal and iron ore and not much else

Commenter

Taxpayer

Location

here and there

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:59AM

Research conducted by Monash University and Sinclair Knight Merz has found a $4 billion to $15 billion black hole in the Liberal's direct action plan.

Greg "I edit original Lateline transcripts" Hunt disputed the figures but predictably failed to prove it by providing any costings, and continues to fail with only 3 days out until the election.

Commenter

Tristan

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 12:47PM

Well, pen, you say Abbott is gullible and stupid, then Kevin is just plain ignorant. He "bravely and fearlessly" (according to the rainbow phalanx, anyway) put a pastor in his place by stating that "homosexuality is a natural occurence."This is our leader, eh? Ignores how humankind has gotten thus far in the first instance but believes it's natural now. Goodness me, has this Kevin bloke ever learned to read at all?Ah well, perhaps, pen, you didn't get my new Name for the Day - eh? Just say it quickly, eh - Ade Scarrier... he, he..

Commenter

Snidery Mark

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 1:13PM

Credit to Kevin Rudd.He really did sound very good on Q&A last night. He sounded like he had answers, vision and was PM material.The problem I have, is that he sounded that way in 2007 as well.Kevin Rudd is a fantastic salesman, but a poor leader. He can deliver a message but can't implement an outcome. I guess that is why the ALP swallowed their pride when they reinstated him. It's all about saving seats.

Commenter

beasleyst

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 9:37AM

No, it's a one man show. It's all about Kev and his ego!

Commenter

Anthony

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 9:48AM

Anthony, in case it did not occur to you, it was a one-man show because the person who has been 'ready' to be Prime Minister for three years is as terrified of appearing on Q&A as he is of telling us where the money is really coming from.

Commenter

Whyalla Wipeout

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:03AM

I didnt hear him on Q&A last night but I did on ABC Radio this morning. He kept on about Abbott saying the Syrian rebels aren't much better than the Assad regime. Which according to KRudd is proof that he is unfit to govern - and get this - because we and our allies recognise the rebel coalition. We recognised Nazi Gernany, Pol Pot, Mugabe, Idi Amins Uganda to name a few..Just because we recognise someone today doesnt make it necessary to do so tomorrow. Rudd is such a bone.

Commenter

Rossco

Location

SEQ

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:12AM

Abbott was invited onto Q&A with Rudd. He refused because he's scared to take questions from a Q&A audience. Anyone who knows Q&A also knows that nobody gets off easily. Abbott is simply avoiding scrutiny, I think, because he's a coward. So it wasn't all about Rudd, Abbott was invited but refused.

Commenter

Tone

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:13AM

Great in front of the Camera's.No idea how to run a Country.Empty promises and Lies, it's no wonder he is on par with Julia when he Backstabbed her as preferred PM 33%??Says it all , Enjoy your last few days Kev.

Commenter

sorry state

Location

nsw

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:34AM

I just cannot see how Scott Morrison could possibly prevail in a debate weighed down as he is with that idiotic boat buy-back nonsense.

Commenter

Lewis

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 9:34AM

He's asked to borrow Christopher's Brick.

Commenter

tasch2

Location

Mornington Peninsula

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 10:02AM

At least he is not weighed down by the 4000 deaths claimed by Rudd last night. 4000 dead thanks to labor policy, it must make you very proud.

Commenter

Denny

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:05AM

Denny. Yeah, Rudd should never had dismantled Howard's successful raft of border protection policies but Morrison's latest boat buy-back idea is just plain stupid. He was already way out in front on this issue anyway.

Commenter

Lewis

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:44AM

denny, how many people have died in Iraq and Afghanistan as a result of Coalition policy. Their war mongering has pushed people to leave those countries and get on boats, so you could say not only are they responsible for civilian deaths in war but also the deaths of those people feeling the war.

Commenter

tasch2

Location

Mornington Peninsula

Date and time

September 03, 2013, 11:47AM

The good news for me Hacka is that you'll suffer him as well.

I will be a beneficiary from the Liberal Party anyway regardless. But I would forgo many of those benefits to have a fairer Australia. I know you lot wouldn't, but that's the selfishness I find with Liberal Party supporters.